Brownfields 2005

  Grant  Fact Sheet

             DASH for

   LaGrange, Inc.,  GA


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. Addi-
tionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal
response programs through a separate mechanism.

Community Description

DASH for LaGrange, Inc., was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup  grant. LaGrange (population
25,998) is a progressive city 60 miles south of Atlanta.
The Jefferson Street Site targeted for cleanup lies in
the heart of Hillside,  one of the city's old mill neighbor-
hoods. This neighborhood borders on the poorest
census tract in LaGrange. More than 55 percent of
Hillside residents are minorities. As former mill em-
ployees gradually moved away from the neighborhood,
the homes were bought up by investors who neglected
the properties. As a result, the homes and nearby
businesses have deteriorated.  Most of the commercial
structures in the area are now vacant or underutilized.
The Jefferson Street  Site is located within, and critical
   Cleanup Grant
   $200,000 for petroleum
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 12005/j
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  EPA has selected DASH for LaGrange, Inc., for
  a brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds will be
  used to clean up contamination resulting from an
  underground release of petroleum products to
  groundwater originating at 614 Jefferson Street,
  location of a former gasoline station. The con-
  tamination also has affected the adjacent proper-
  ties at 622 and 624 Jefferson Street. Together,
  these three contiguous properties are known as
  the Jefferson Street 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 4 Brownfields Team
  404-562-8684
  http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/bf/index.htm

  Grant Recipient: DASH for LaGrange, Inc., GA
  706-298-2436

  The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
  yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
  in this fact sheet are subject to change.
to, a DASH mixed-use redevelopment project already
underway that includes housing units for the elderly,
renovated commercial buildings to upgrade old estab-
lishments and draw new business to the area, and a
park weaving through the neighborhood. Part of the
plan involves creating space for a farmers market and
craft sales. Cleanup of the site will facilitate this
neighborhood project and help bring employment and
other income-generating opportunities for local resi-
dents.
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                        EPA 560-F-05-046
                        May 2005
                        www.epa.gov/brownfields

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