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County government plays a vital role in creating an environment that is conducive to business investment and economic development. In my state of the county address a few months ago, I focused on the Legislature’s responsibility for ensuring that Oswego County is a hospitable place to invest and grow.

One of the most promising projects that we have undertaken in this area is the federal EPA brownfield assessment grant to study properties along the Oswego River corridor. About a year ago the county Department of Planning and Community Development was awarded a $400,000 grant, the maximum allowed, to study abandoned industrial and commercial sites on both sides of the river, from Oswego Harbor to Three Rivers.

The project addresses the vacant and under-utilized properties that once were thriving industries and businesses. Many of the properties are in prime locations, but aren’t being developed because of known or suspected contamination.

This program is an incentive to economic development because it relieves the financial burden on a potential developer or site owner. Over the past few months a great deal of progress has been made. From an initial list of over 100 suspected sites, we have prioritized and received approval from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assess and research 25.

The list is based on factors that affect economic development and our quality of life, including potential for re-use, access to existing infrastructure, economic opportunities, and job creation. We have had a very good response from many of the property owners. They recognize the importance of this project in our community, and they are interested in allowing their property to be improved and become an asset to our community.

The grant allowed the county to hire a consulting firm, ENSR International, to prepare Phase I assessments. They will provide a thorough report on prior use, ownership, photos, and most importantly, the nature of any contamination. Phase I reports are already completed for the vacant Sunoco gas station on Main Street in Phoenix, and the former Fulton Mall properties behind Mimi’s Restaurant on state Route 481 in Fulton.

What happens next? The answer depends on the condition of the property. If the research shows that the site is relatively clean, the owner can begin to market the property and bring it back into useful production. If the investigation shows contamination, the grant allows monies for Phase II assessments that provide extensive environmental evaluations of air quality, groundwater, and soil sampling. Site redevelopment plans will be formulated, and the county will continue seeking additional state and federal money to remediate properties. We will continue to address the sites that have the best chance for remediation and job development.

This fall the Department of Planning and Community Development plans to apply for the next round of Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) funding from the EPA for remediation projects. We are also awaiting the release of funds from the state Department of Environmental Conservation/Department of State to augment the federal brownfields grant. Some of these properties lie within Empire Zones or are classified as “economically distressed” census tracts and may leverage additional state and federal funds.

This project gives us a unique opportunity to recover some of the blighted properties along our beautiful Oswego River. The county is aggressively seeking all available sources of funding. We are taking a thorough and comprehensive approach, and I believe our efforts will pay off for future development.

If you would like additional information on the brownfields remediation program, you may contact Brian Frazier at the county Department of Planning and Community Development, phone 349-8292.