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HI
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Brownfields 2004
Grant Fact Sheet
Sf. Lou/'s Community
College, MO
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 con-
taminant. 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 communities
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
St. Louis Community College (SLCC) was selected to
receive a job training grant. SLCC will focus on
residents of economically depressed communities in the
Cities of St. Louis, Missouri, and East St. Louis, Illinois.
In particular, SLCC will focus on residents of the St.
Louis/East St. Louis Empowerment Zone (population
49,000). The Empowerment Zone (EZ) is comprised of
90% minority populations, primarily African American.
These communities have suffered for years from a
lack of financial and social investment. About 47% of
EZ residents live in poverty, and the unemployment
rate is 24%. Abandoned warehouses, factories, and
Job Training Grants
$125,000
EPA has selected St. Louis Community College for
a job training grant. SLCC plans to train 65 students
with the EPA grant, achieve a 75% placement rate,
and track students for one year. SLCC plans to offer
three 190-hour initial programs (Track I) and one
120-hour advanced program (Track II) per year.
Fifty students will be enrolled in Track I and 15 in
Track II. Track 1 will consist of Missouri and Illinois
certifications in lead and asbestos abatement, 40-
hour HAZWOPER, hazardous materials handling,
10-hour OSHAforthe construction industry, and
training in innovative and alternative treatment
technologies. Track II will offer enhanced training in
the Track I subjects and courses on environmental
sampling and monitoring. Students will be recruited
from among unemployed and underemployed
residents of the EZ. Placement of graduates in
environmental jobs will be through SLCC's contacts
with local employers and with the assistance of the
St. Louis Development Corporation.
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 7 Brownfields Team
913-551-7940
http://www.epa.gov/Region7/citizens/brownfields/
index.htm
Grant Recipient: St. Louis Community College, MO
314-951-9850
other buildings are reminders of the dramatic economic
changes in the city over the last 50 years. Brownfields-
related redevelopment activities spurred by EPA
assessment and revolving loan fund pilots, along with
recently initiated efforts by the city to address lead and
asbestos problems, have created a steadily rising
demand for skilled environmental workers.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA500-F-04-015
March 2004
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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