HI
C3
Brownfields 2004
Grant Fact Sheet
Groundwork
Providence Inc.,
Providence, Rl
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. The job
training grants provide training for residents of commu-
nities affected by brownfields to prepare them for
employment in the assessment and cleanup of
brownfield sites. Additionally, funding support is
provided to state and tribal response programs through
a separate mechanism.
Community Description
Groundwork Providence, Inc. (GWP) of Providence,
RI was selected to receive a job training grant. The
focus of the grant is the City of Pawtucket (population
72,958). The target neighborhoods for job training are
the four federally designated Enterprise Communities
(EC) in the city. These communities are home to 60%
of the city's Hispanic population and 68% of the
African-American population. Approximately 30% of
Job Training Grant
$150,000
EPA has selected Groundwork Providence, Inc.
for a job training grant. GWP plans to train 75
students, graduate 90% of trainees, achieve at
least a 75% placement rate, and track students
through their employers for one year. The training
program will consist of 154 hours of classroom,
laboratory, and hands-on experience in hazardous
waste and safety training, lead and asbestos
abatement, confined space entry, and environmen-
tal chemistry and safety. Students will be re-
cruited from the residents of the four Enterprise
Communities in the City of Pawtucket. Place-
ment in environmental jobs will be facilitated by
GWP programs for identifying employment
opportunities and establishing community hiring
agreements with local and regional employers.
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 1 Brownfields Team
617-918-1305
http://www.epa.gov/region01/brownfields/
Grant Recipient: Groundwork Providence, Inc., RI
401-351-6440
Pawtucket's households are over 150% below the
poverty line. About 25 properties in the city are being
considered for economic development or historic
preservation. In addition, a new state program offers
tax incentives to businesses that occupy and reuse
vacant mill properties. These developments, and
Pawtucket's involvement in the Brownfields Revolving
Loan Fund partnership with the state, have created the
potential for brownfieIds-related jobs for EC residents
with the appropriate environmental training.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 500-F-04-007
March 2004
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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