Not only does such redevelopment place property back on the tax rolls, it also improves neighborhoods, creates employment and reverses the cycle of deterioration and abandonment. In many situations local government can take a leadership role in the process. A municipality's participation can often tip the balance in favor of having a site cleaned up, rather than allowing it to remain idle and contaminated. Several laws have been recently enacted to encourage the redevelopment of brownfields. The EOZA authorizes local property tax exemption and abatement where a contaminated property will be remediated.
Financial assistance is available through a number of state and federal programs.
The fund was authorized to provide financial assistance for environmental investigations and cleanups. A portion of the fund's proceeds was earmarked for municipal government. Other sources of assistance include the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority and the United States Environmental Protection Agency pilot program grants.