CANTON -- The town has received a $176,000 state Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program grant.

The funding is part of $2 million dollars provided to 13 communities around the state announced in a press release from the governor’s office today, Thursday, Feb. 1.

The Town of Canton will use the funding to complete a Brownfield Opportunity Area Nomination for an area approximately 73 acres, with 27 potential sites and nine vacant or underutilized sites along the Grasse River and in the historic downtown, said the press release

Specific projects in Canton will include studying the feasibility of relocating the County Highway Department, streetscape enhancement, and reviewing zoning and land-use regulations, the press release said.

Objectives of the nomination process include an analysis of existing market and housing conditions; an assessment of environmental contamination on key sites and promotion of essential environmental cleanup; improved gateways into the historic downtown; increased public access to the Grasse River; protection of waterfront and open space resources; and an improved local economy.

The state’s Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program provides resources to develop data-driven revitalization strategies for economically distressed areas, the press release said.

These plans forge a path to transform blighted properties in urban areas into community assets and catalysts for neighborhood-wide revitalization.

Brownfields are abandoned or underutilized properties where known or perceived contamination has impeded redevelopment, turning the properties into economic and environmental drains on localities.

The governor believes that Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program grants have driven revitalization throughout the state, turning dormant sites into vibrant and productive properties that attract jobs and private investment, ultimately expanding the local tax base.

"This funding will help transform blighted and polluted properties into economic engines in communities across New York," said Governor Andrew Cuomo. "We will continue to work with our local partners to revitalize neighborhoods, create opportunity and build a stronger Empire State for all."

Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program grants support: site contamination condition investigations; environmental impact assessments; studies to determine the best use of brownfields and vacant sites; redevelopment plans for impacted sites; marketing to attract developer and investor interest; forums and opportunities for public participation; and additional actions to spur investment, clean-up, and redevelopment related to brownfield sites.

The Department of State administers the Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program.