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Brownfields 2008
Grant Fact Sheet
Southern University at
Shreveport, 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 con-
taminant. 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. Additionally, funding support
is provided to state and tribal response programs through
a separate mechanism.
Community Description
Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA) was
selected to receive a job training grant. Located in
Caddo Parish in northwest Louisiana, Shreveport is the
third largest city in the state with a population of
200,199. Approximately 58 percent of the city's
Job Training Grant
$199,999
EPA has selected Southern University at Shreve-
port (SUSLA) for a job training grant. SUSLA
plans to train 37 students, place 31 graduates in
environmental jobs, and track them for one year.
The training program will consist of three, 121 -hour
training cycles comprising technical instruction in
HAZWOPER, OSHA safety, asbestos abatement
supervisor, CPR, and first aid. Students will be
recruited from low- to-moderate-income popula-
tions living in areas impacted by brownfields.
SUSLA's Intake Assistance and Supportive
Services Center will provide support services for
students, including career counseling, job placement
assistance, and job readiness and life skills training.
Three area employers-Abatement Services, Inc.,
ALTEC Environmental, and SRP Environmental-
have expressed interest in partnering with SUSLA
and hiring trained graduates.
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.
Camisha Scott, EPA Region 6
214-665-6755
www.epa.gov/region6/brownfields
Grant Recipient: Southern University at
Shreveport, LA
318-678-4674
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
residents are minorities. The percentages of families
and individuals living below the poverty level in Shreve-
port are 19.6 percent and 23.9 percent, respectively,
and the unemployment rate across Caddo Parish is
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-08-232
March 2008
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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over 11 percent. These rates are much higher, how-
ever, near the brownfields-impacted areas targeted by
this grant. SUSLA plans to help address environmental
justice issues faced by low-income, minority, and socio-
economically disadvantaged residents. Since Hurricane
Katrina, Shreveport has become a major city for film
production. According to the city, there is a strong need
for skilled environmental technicians with the certifica-
tions necessary to address contamination in older
buildings in the downtown area that potentially will be
used by the film industry.
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