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  Brownfields  2004

  Grant  Fact Sheet

          Ranson,  WV




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, the President
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 pro-
grams through a separate mechanism.

Community Description

The City of Ranson was selected to receive a
brownfields assessment grant. The combined popula-
tion of the cities of Ranson and Charles Town is 6,100,
and approximately 15 percent of the residents living
within walking distance of the Commerce Corridor
target area live in poverty. The minority population in
the two communities is approximately 20 percent,
twice the rate of the broader Jefferson County area.
Low- to moderate-income sections of both cities with
mixed African-American and Hispanic populations are
situated adjacent to the brownfields sites. The two
communities have made progress toward revitalization
of the Commerce Corridor. A new business recently
                       Assessment Grant
                       $145,000 for hazardous substances

                       EPA has selected the City of Ranson for a
                       brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be
                       used to perform three Phase I and seven Phase II
                       site assessments in the Commerce Corridor in the
                       Cities of Ranson and Charles Town. Grant funds
                       also will be used to develop cleanup and reuse
                       plans for up to seven sites and to continue the
                       cities' community outreach efforts.
                       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 3 Brownfields Team
                       215-814-3129
                       http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bfs/index.htm

                       Grant Recipient: Ranson, WV
                       304-725-1010

                       The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
                       yet been negotiated; therefore, the activities
                       described in this fact sheet are subject to change.
                    moved in, bringing 66 new jobs, with the prospect of up
                    to 330 more, to the area. Assessment and cleanup of
                    the target sites are expected to help the cities continue
                    their progress. Redevelopment plans along the Com-
                    merce Corridor include the county's first multiplex
                    theater, new county office facilities, a technology
                    center, a retail area, parkland and soccer fields.
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                                             EPA 560-F-04-087
                                             June 2004
                                             www.epa.gov/brownfields

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