ATLANTA - Today, the E.P.A. (EPA) announced the selection of 2 new grant investments totaling $400,000 in West Point, Miss. These investments will provide the community with backing necessary to assess, clean and redevelop contaminated properties, boost the local economy and leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment.
EPA's Brownfields grants provide resources early, which is critical for communities to succeed and be able to leverage additional partnerships and resources. Community leaders-represented by local governments, states, tribes, quasi-governmental organizations, and non-profit entities-have demonstrated strong partnerships and project to leverage the E.P.A. grants with other public-private investments. They use an inclusive process to help spur the redevelopment of vacant, former manufacturing and commercial sites for broader revitalization in their downtowns. This results in a transformed economy and environment while addressing poverty and economic distress.
"Brownfield sites-because of their locations and associated infrastructure advantages-are community assets and a key component of the Obama Administration's efforts to provide tools to sustainably revitalize communities and foster economic development," said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. "These communities have demonstrated a project to leverage their grants and partnerships to achieve economic and environmental revitalization to meet their needs for jobs. The grants will help transform brownfield sites, such as former manufacturing and mill sites, into productive end uses which directly benefit community residents and create opportunities including increased housing options, recreational spaces, and jobs."
In Mississippi, E.P.A. has selected the City of West Point and Community Counseling Services (also in West Point) for brownfields cleanup grants totaling $200,000 each. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to clean up the former West Side School at 126 Travis Street and the former Mary Holmes College Administration Building at 1032 State Hwy. 50 West, respectively. Both buildings are vacant and contaminated with heavy metals and inorganic contaminants.
This latest backing advances EPA's broader commitment to making a visible difference in communities by better coordinating federal investments to help environmentally overburdened, underserved, and economically distressed communities address local priorities. Communities selected this year demonstrate a high level of preparedness to undertake specific plans as they have firm commitments of leveraged funds to move plans forward.
Since the inception of the EPA's Brownfields Plan in 1995, cumulative brownfield Plan investments have leveraged in excess of $22 billion from a variety of public and private sources for cleanup and redevelopment activities. This equates to an average of $17.79 leveraged per E.P.A. brownfield dollar expended. These investments have resulted in approximately 105,942 jobs nationwide. EPA's Brownfields Plan empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields sites.
More information on EPA's brownfields:
Plan
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
Success Stories
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/success/index.htm
Grants by region:
http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/pdfs/2015-AC-grant-fact-sheets.pdf
Connect with E.P.A. Region four on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/eparegion4
And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast
