Town of Monroe

Monroe, one of the smallest communities in the Commonwealth, contacted MassDevelopment through TA Connect. The challenge: the Ramage Paper Mill was at risk of collapsing into the Deerfield River. The Town was hesitant to take the property by either tax title or eminent domain due to liability concerns. MassDevelopment convened a number of local, regional, state, and federal partners to help craft a solution. Ultimately, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs provided Monroe with a $520,000 grant to demolish the mill, and remove asbestos, fluorescent light tubes, tires, petroleum products, lead paint, and other hazardous materials that would have otherwise contaminated the river. The site will become a public park with permanent conservation restrictions.

To learn more about this project, click here