Town of Vernon Obtains $650,000 Grant from U.S. EPA to Advance Daniel’s Mill Cleanup
(VERNON, Connecticut) – The Town of Vernon has been awarded a $650,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to continue cleanup efforts at the former Daniel’s Mill site, one of the mills the Town is working with a developer to repurpose into housing and commercial space.
The Brownfields Cleanup Grant is one of several the town has received to advance the project.
Daniel’s Mill, at 98 East Main Street, was a former textile mill that has also been used over the years as a machine shop, for the manufacture of fire-resistant paints, pesticides and as office and warehouse space.
The grant application was completed by town staff with assistance from the University of Connecticut.
“This EPA grant to help cover cleanup costs at Daniel’s Mill is another key step forward in our effort to restore the gateway to Rockville, develop housing and commercial space and to get the properties back on the tax rolls,” Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne said. “This is a true example of local, state and federal government working together to move Vernon forward. This combined effort is essential to seeing this project through to a successful completion.”
Last year, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development awarded the town $2 million for the cleanup of Daniel’s Mill. The Town is working with Camden Management Partners of Atlanta, Georgia, to repurpose Daniels and three adjacent properties, the former Amerbelle and Anocoil mills, into housing and commercial space.
“We are excited to see the Town of Vernon being awarded an EPA Brownfield Cleanup grant,” said Nefeli Bompoti, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UConn and Program Manager for the Technical Assistance for Brownfields (TAB) program. “The funding will act as a catalyst for the revitalization of Daniel’s Mill, and will promote economic and community development. At UConn TAB, we are happy to work with communities and support their efforts to transform blighted sites into community assets.”
In addition to the $2 million grant from the state, Vernon has also received $300,000 to study Daniel’s Mill and $4 million to cleanup Amerbelle.
“We have been putting the pieces together for what will be a transformational project for downtown Vernon,” Mayor Champagne said. “This is a spectacular complex of properties with waterfalls and the Hockanum River flowing through. Every grant we obtain moves us closer to our goal. I am especially grateful to Professor Bompoti and UConn for the critical assistance they provided on this grant application.”