How is Thompson affected by Brownfields?

For over a century, the River Mill and the Belding-Corticelli Mill were the economic engines of Thompson.  These impressive mills were centers of industry and innovation, employing thousands of area residents.  Unfortunately, this vibrant industrial past left behind environmental conditions that make it difficult to reuse these properties.  Without community initiatives and public investment, brownfields are rarely redeveloped.  The effects of these blighted properties can persist for generations, causing negative public perceptions, impacting property values, deterring private investment in the area, dragging down the local economy, and reducing local revenue.