Brantford, Ont. – Hans Cunningham, president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and director of the Regional District of Central Kootenay, B.C., and Phil McColeman, Member of Parliament for Brant, today announced a Green Municipal FundTM (GMF) grant for the City of Brantford. The city put $228,199 in funding toward environmental testing to establish the levels of contamination on site and for the development of a remediation strategy for the Greenwich Mohawk Brownfield site, a 52 acre former farm implement manufacturing facility.

“FCM’s Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources and services that specifically address the sustainable community development needs of municipal governments,” said Cunningham. “The financing and knowledge provided by the Fund supports the development of communities that are more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.”

“The Government of Canada is assisting municipalities across the country in achieving their goal of a cleaner and healthier environment for Canadians through the Green Municipal Fund,” said Mr. McColeman. “Today’s announcement is another example of how our government — in partnership with FCM — is helping Brantford build a greener future for our citizens.”

The City of Brantford, in working towards a development agreement with Terrasan Corporation for the remediation and redevelopment of the site, funded a more extensive environmental testing process to more accurately determine the level of contaminants on site using modern technology. The results are being used to support the remedial action plan to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater at the 52-acre Greenwich-Mohawk brownfield site. The assessments and plan identify the remediation methods most sustainable for this site. The remediation of the site contributes to the overall improvement strategy for Brantford's downtown area, which has been identified as an urban growth centre in the Province of Ontario's Places to Grow Act.

The City of Brantford and Terrasan plan to redevelop the site as a mixed-use neighbourhood with 16 acres of green space, 40 percent tree canopy cover , an improved waterfront along the historic Grand River Navigation Company canal, a range of housing types, and a museum district that will showcase the site’s industrial heritage.

“The City of Brantford appreciates the support of the Green Municipal Fund for our sustainable initiative,” said Mayor Chris Friel. “The clean-up of these former industrial lands and the redevelopment of the lands will not only improve the environment for generations to come but will also strengthen neighbourhoods in the core of Brantford.

The Government of Canada endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) with $550 million to establish the Green Municipal Fund. The Fund supports partnerships and leveraging of both public and private-sector funding to reach higher standards of air, water and soil quality, and climate protection.