Sffi HI C3 Brownfields 2003 Grant Fact Sheet Hope Community Development Corporation, Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, LA EPA Brownfields Program EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu- nities, and other stakeholders in economic development to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields. Abrownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields Law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The Hope Community Development Corporation (CDC) was selected to receive a cleanup grant. The CDC, which builds and rehabilitates housing for low- to moderate-income families in Baton Rouge, has identi- fied a site from the city's brownfields inventory, which was completed under an earlier brownfields grant. The site is in a neighborhood with a 97 percent Afri- can-American population and a 13 percent unemploy- ment rate. The median household income is only $15,999, compared to the parish-wide average of $37,224. Following the cleanup, the CDC plans to construct affordable single-family housing on the site. This reuse conforms to the City-Parish Planning Commission's plan for infill development as a means of Cleanup Grant £003 $35,000 for petroleum EPA has selected Hope Community Develop- ment Corporation for a brownfields cleanup grant. The cleanup grant will target the North Street Mechanics Shop (Lot 49, N. 46th Street) in East Baton Rouge. Although the site currently is residential, spills, probably from former shop operations adjacent to the property, have con- taminated the site. Contacts For further information, including specific grant contacts, additional grant information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at: www.epa.gov/brownfields. EPA Region 6 Brownfields Team 214-665-6735 http://www.epa.gov/earth 1 r6/6sf/bfpages/ sfbfhome.htm Grant Recipient: Hope Community Development Corporation, LA 225-344-7104 Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the Hope Community Development Corporation has not received brownfields grant funding. The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. controlling economic growth and creating a more livable and healthier community. The CDC will encourage community involvement with the help of the established Baton Rouge Brownfields Program and the CDC's own neighborhood outreach activities. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA500-F-03-109 June 2003 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |