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Brownfields 2007
Grant Fact Sheet
Hickory, NC
EPA Brownfields Program
EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, commu-
nities, and other stakeholders 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
The City of Hickory was selected to receive two
brownfields assessment grants. Located in central-
western North Carolina, Hickory's (population 39,730)
economy has been dominated by furniture manufactur-
ing, textile mills, and fiber optic manufacturers. Since
1998, the city has lost 3,200 jobs in these sectors, and
at least 36 plants and businesses have closed. There
are 20 to 30 brownfields in the city that are contami-
nated with chemicals from the furniture and textile
industries, and 30 to 40 sites contaminated with
petroleum products. Many of these abandoned sites
are impeding economic growth. They are surrounded
primarily by low-income, minority neighborhoods.
The city's poverty rate is 14.8 percent, and 23 percent
of residents are minorities. When brownfields are
assessed, the city will be able to leverage cleanup and
Assessment Grants
$200,000 for hazardous substances
$200,000 for petroleum
EPA has selected the City of Hickory for two
brownfields assessment grants. Hazardous
substances grant funds will be used to conduct
five to ten Phase I and one or two Phase II
environmental site assessments. Petroleum grant
funds will be used to conduct four to nine Phase I
and three or four Phase II environmental site
assessments. Funds also will be used to generate
a brownfields inventory and conduct community
involvement 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 4 Brownfields Team
404-562-8792
http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/bf/index.htm
Grant Recipient: City of Hickory, NC
828-323-7422
The information presented in this fact sheet comes
from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the
accuracy of this information. The cooperative
agreement for the grant has not yet been negoti-
ated. Therefore, activities described in this fact
sheet are subject to change.
redevelopment investment to create mixed-use devel-
opment and greenspace. Brownfields redevelopment
will create jobs, expand the local tax base, and reduce
health risks to the community.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-07-072
May 2007
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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