Brownfields  2005

  Grant  Fact  Sheet

Main Street USA,  Inc.,

     Baton Rouge,  LA


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

Main Street USA, Inc., was selected to receive a
brownfields cleanup grant. Main Street USA, Inc. is
dedicated to the redevelopment of properties in de-
pressed urban and semi-urban areas of Baton Rouge
(population 227,818). The target area of Baton Rouge
Mid-City was historically a suburban hub that was
separated from the downtown area by the construction
of a major interstate in the 1960s. As a result of this
isolation and urban sprawl, conditions in the target area
have deteriorated. Nearly 40 percent of Mid-City
residents live below the poverty level and 84 percent
are minority. A previous Phase I assessment of the
Main Street property, the former location of a car
dealership, auto parts, and service warehouse, revealed
                                                                   1
  Cleanup Grant
  $178,000 for hazardous substances
  EPA has selected Main Street USA, Inc., for a
  brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds will be
  used to remove and dispose of containers of
  petroleum/solvents and paints; and to conduct
  asbestos, lead-based paint, and mold abatement at
  the 1201 Main Street Property, in Baton Rouge,
  which once was the site of an automotive service
  facility. Funds also will be used for community
  outreach activities.
  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 6 Brownfields Team
  214-665-6736
  http://www.epa.gov/earthlr6/6sf/bfpages/
  sfbfhome.htm

  Grant Recipient: Main Street USA, Inc., LA
  225-768-9027

  The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
  yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
  in this fact sheet are subject to change.
multiple hazardous contaminants. Private sources have
pledged funding to restore this historic building into a
show piece. However, the pledge is contingent upon
the elimination of environmental concerns. The site will
be converted into mixed-use commercial space. An
engineering firm has already committed to occupying
one floor of the building. Redevelopment of this
property is expected to jump start revitalization of the
area and return jobs and pride to the community.
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                        EPA 560-F-05-059
                        May 2005
                        www.epa.gov/brownfields

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