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Brownfields 2009
Grant Fact Sheet
Oregon
Tradeswomen, Inc.,
Portland, OR
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 this
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 brownfields job
training grants provide residents of communities
impacted by brownfields with the skills and training
needed to effectively gain employment in assessment
and cleanup activities associated with brownfield
redevelopment and environmental remediation. Addi-
tionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal
response programs through a separate mechanism.
Community Description
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. (OTI), was selected to
receive a job training grant. OTI is a nonprofit organi-
zation that serves the Greater Portland and Multnomah
County areas (population 671,121) in northwest
Oregon. More than 17 percent of county families live
Job Training Grant
$200,000
EPA has selected Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.
(OTI), for a job training grant. OTI plans to train
120 participants, place a minimum of 78 trainees in
environmental jobs, and track students for at least
two years, including a minimum of one year after
the close of the grant. The training program will
consist of at least eight six-week, 145-hour cycles
that will include 40-hour HAZWOPER certification
training, certification of graduation from a state
approved pre-apprentice program, and training in
specialized knowledge of brownfields problems and
solutions. Primary trainers include OTI, the
University of Washington, three environmental
justice organizations, and the Portland Brownfields
Program. Students will be recruited from the low-
income, minority, unemployed, or underemployed
female population in the area. OTI has developed
partnerships with labor unions that operate appren-
ticeship programs and with potential employers.
These partners will work with OTI to place
graduates in environmental jobs.
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.
Laura Caparroso, EPA Region 10
206-553-6378
http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/cleanup .nsf/sites/bf
Grant Recipient: Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.
503-335-8200x22
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA560-F-09-015
January 2009
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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below the poverty level. For families with a female
head of household and children under the age of five.
the poverty rate is 51 percent. According to the
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, there
are 700 contaminated sites within the City of Portland.
Many of these sites are located along commercial
corridors and threaten adjacent residential neighbor-
hoods. Majorthoroughfares, municipal landfills, and
sewage treatment plants are located within these
neighborhoods. At the same time, the Portland region is
experiencing a population growth that is more than
twice the national average. Limited developable land
within Portland is creating great pressure for
brownfields redevelopment. Oregon's economic history
indicates that there will continue to be a demand for
graduates with certified environmental skills.
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