The City of New Bedford Office of Environmental Stewardship and the New Bedford Economic Development Council have formed a Brownfields Task Force of partners and stakeholders with the goal to identify Brownfield sites in the city that have the highest economic development and job creation potential for targeted EPA assessment funding.

On March 11 at 6:00PM, a meeting will be held to inform the public of the work of the Task Force to date, present the recommended sites based on selection criteria, and to provide a forum for public input and feedback. The meeting will be held at the New Bedford Economic Development Council, Third Floor, 1213 Purchase Street, New Bedford MA 02740.

The Task Force used the following criteria in making its site specific recommendations:
* Feasibility/Potential for Results: sites with the potential to be developed in a way that contributes to the economic revitalization of the City (important for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds), and/or to improve quality of life, and/or to restore natural resources
* Ownership: sites in the inventory owned or likely to be owned as a result of tax foreclosure by the City or a public entity or where owner will provide access
* Health/ Environmental Risk: sites where the potential for contamination to impact health, safety or the environment is greatest
* Assessment Status: sites with known or suspected potential for contamination where no assessment funds have been expended or where phase I assessment results indicated a need for further investigation
* Relationship to Strategic Projects: sites within the urban core; potential for synergy with ongoing strategic brownfields redevelopment projects and/or because of potential impacts to residents and/or the environment.
* Creation/ Preservation of Open Space/ Green Space: sites targeted for open space or green space, or sites where redevelopment will likely contribute to the preservation of open space or green space
* Eligibility for Brownfields Funding: Site eligibility determination based on the program criteria established in Brownfields Law and EPA Brownfields Assessment grant program criteria

The meeting on March 11 is open to the public. For more information call the NBEDC at 508-991-3122.