August 29, 2024 – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency celebrated the selection of Camden Lutheran Housing Inc. to receive a $1 million grant for the cleanup of the Former West Jersey Paper Manufacturing Site. The event, which took place at the intersection of North Front Street and Elm Street in Camden, New Jersey, was part of a tour of several key redevelopment sites in the area. Following the cleanup funded by this grant, 15 affordable single-family homes will be built at these locations, marking a significant step in the broader revitalization efforts across Camden.
EPA Regional Chief of Staff Olivia Glenn, U.S. Representative Donald Norcross, Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen, and Camden Lutheran Housing Inc. Executive Director Brandi Johnson highlighted the transformative impact of this funding on communities across New Jersey, particularly in Camden, made possible by the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
“Camden has consistently demonstrated success in revitalizing communities and that success comes only when the communities have a seat at the table and are beneficiaries as is the case with this cleanup that will lead to affordable housing,” said EPA Regional Chief of Staff Olivia Glenn. “The Brownfields program is an incredibly effective tool that is further strengthened by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocates $1.5 billion to promote equitable environmental health, economic growth, and job creation nationwide.”
“This $1 million Brownfields Cleanup Grant awarded to Camden Lutheran Housing Inc. is a critical investment in the future of this community,” said U.S. Senator Booker. “This historic funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will clean up a contaminated site, and lay the foundation for new affordable homes for Camden families. I am proud to have helped pass the Infrastructure Law, legislation that continues to transform communities like Camden and allows them to reach their full potential.”
“I was proud to help pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law to invest in the Brownfield Program and revitalize South Jersey communities. Not only will this funding clean up our neighborhoods, but it will also help our families access safe, affordable housing,” U.S. Rep. Norcross (NJ-01) said. “Protecting our communities from harmful waste and pollution and repurposing these sites has been one of my top priorities since coming to Congress. I will continue to fight to improve our quality of life, protect our environment, and ensure a healthy and safe environment for South Jersey families.”
“Our administration has been laser-focused on expanding access to safe and affordable housing in New Jersey,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This critical funding from the EPA’s Brownfields Program and President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will allow for the environmental and economic revitalization of several communities across the Garden State, including the city of Camden. Cleaning up contaminated sites and constructing new, affordable homes will advance our mission of becoming the best state in the nation to live and raise a family.”
“We are pleased to partner with EPA, the City of Camden and the Camden Redevelopment Agency to support the remediation of this former manufacturing site that has long been off limits and unable to provide any benefit for this North Camden community that has experienced disproportionate impacts from pollution,” said New Jersey Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “Through community revitalization projects such as this, we are furthering the promise of environmental justice and improving residents’ quality of life. Once remediation work is complete, the community will be able to start fresh and utilize this space to better serve its needs.”
“I am grateful to the Environmental Protection Agency for awarding this grant funding and for EPA’s continued efforts to support environmental renewal in urban areas like Camden,” said Camden Mayor Victor G. Carstarphen. “We have worked tirelessly with EPA for decades to remediate brownfields and to transition sites from our former industrial past into cleaner uses. This grant will help further our goal, by promoting new community driven development in our neighborhoods, and providing residents with the improved quality of life they deserve.”
“This city has continually benefited by the Brownfields program, and I am thrilled to see another grant in action in North Camden,” said Camden Board of Freeholders Commissioner Deputy Director Ed McDonnell. “Through these grants we have transformed hazardous sites into safe, beautiful, community spaces such as Elijah Perry Park and Judge. Rober B. Johnson Park and now we can address the need for affordable housing with this newest project. I want to thank the EPA and all of our partners for investing in this city and truly caring about the health and equity of our residents.”
“This award confirms and solidifies the vision of North Camden stakeholders who saw potential at this site and for the neighborhood beyond the history and debris. Camden Lutheran Housing, Inc. is excited to continue leading in the movement to revitalize North Camden,” says Brandi T. Johnson, Camden Lutheran Housing Inc. Executive Director. “This project is a longstanding and ongoing collaboration among partners including the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Camden County and the City of Camden. Now, with this funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, we are another significant step closer to reclaiming this land for a positive and necessary use that will impact the future of North Camden.”
The $1 million grant to Camden Lutheran Housing Inc. will be used to clean up a half-acre site previously used for paper milling and pulp operations. Activities at this facility contaminated soil and have prevented the site from being used for the good of the community. This cleanup will make the site safe for the development of 15 affordable single-family homes, furthering the City of Camden’s initiative to prioritize affordable housing and the redevelopment of medium-density residential land. This grant is part of four grants totaling $3 million in EPA Brownfields funding for communities across New Jersey. The Camden Redevelopment Agency, also present at the event, was selected to receive a $500,000 community-wide grant to conduct environmental site assessments, focusing on the Federal Street Industrial and Commercial Corridor in the East Camden Neighborhood.
Camden Redevelopment Agency’s Executive Director Olivette Simpson added, “The Camden Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the City of Camden appreciates the long-standing partnerships at the federal, state, and local levels to advance the City’s revitalization efforts along the Federal Street corridor. This EPA assessment award will serve as a catalyst to facilitate area-wide redevelopment of abandoned industrial sites, leading to productive reuses for living wage job opportunities for Camden residents. Previously awarded EPA brownfield assessment grants and EPA Non-Time Critical Removal Actions have also been used in this area. The State of New Jersey has also supported our efforts to facilitate the site’s redevelopment. The State Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund jointly administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority recently in leveraging EPA’s investment awarded the CRA additional $653,000 in grant assessment funds for the Federal Street Corridor.”
Many economically stressed communities, such as parts of Camden, lack the resources to clean up contaminated properties. The Brownfield Program provides these communities with the necessary resources to clean up and redevelop these sites into valuable community assets. This transformation attracts jobs, promotes economic revitalization, and helps create sustainable and environmentally just neighborhoods.
Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.
EPA’s Brownfields Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. The Brownfields Program strives to meet this commitment and advance environmental justice and equity considerations in all aspects of its work.
For more information on EPA’s Brownfields Program visit EPA’s Brownfields webpage.
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