United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5101)
EPA500-F-00-165
May 2000
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
<>EPA Brownfields Cleanup
Revolving Loan Fund Pilot
Charleston, SC
Outreach and Special Projects Staff (5105)
Quick Reference Fact Sheet
EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative is designed to empower states, communities, and other stakeholders
in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse
brownfields. A brownfield is a site, or portion thereof, that has actual or perceived contamination and an active potential for
redevelopment or reuse. EPA is funding: assessment demonstration pilot programs (each funded up to $200,000 over two
years), to assess brownfields sites and to test cleanup and redevelopment models; job training pilot programs (each funded
up to $200,000 over two years), to provide training for residents of communities affected by brownfields to facilitate cleanup
of brownfields sites and prepare trainees for future employment in the environmental field; and, cleanup revolving loan fund
programs (each funded up to $500,000 over five years) to capitalize loan funds to make loans for the environmental cleanup
of brownfields. These pilot programs are intended to provide EPA, states, tribes, municipalities, and communities with useful
information and strategies as they continue to seek new methods to promote a unified approach to site assessment,
environmental cleanup, and redevelopment.
BACKGROUND
Charleston's Federal Enterprise Community (EC)
comprises a 7.3-square mile area located north of
historic Charleston in the "Neck" of the City. The EC
once contained phosphate fertilizer plants and industrial
activities dating back to the 1880s. Despite the
presence of soil contamination and abandoned
buildings, the area has high potential for redevelopment
due to its existing infrastructure and proximity to
transportation.
Charleston's BCRLF will target the EC which is made
up of 19 neighborhoods and contains over 30
brownfield sites. Over 40 percent of EC residents live
in poverty and over 20 percent of its households receive
public assistance. To date, the City has invested more
than $14 million in two EC brownfield projects: the
South Carolina Aquarium and the Enterprise/MUSC
Neighborhood Health Clinic. Charleston is a
Brownfields Assessment Pilot.
BCRLF OBJECTIVES
Charleston's BCRLF will be used to help advance both
public and private revitalization efforts in the EC. It is
hoped that the EC will become a thriving corridor
between the Cities of North Charleston and Charleston,
PILOT SNAPSHOT
Date of Announcement:
May 2000
Amount: $500,000
BCRLF Target Area:
Charleston's Enterprise
Community
Charleston, South Carolina
Contacts:
Department of Housing and
Community Development
(843) 724-3766
Region 4 BCRLF
Coordinator
(404) 562-9969
Visit the EPA Region 4 Brownfields web site at:
www.epa.gov/region04/waste/brown/index.htm
For further information, including specific Pilot contacts, additional
Pilot information, brownfields news and events, and publications
and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields
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where commercial, manufacturing, and distribution
facilities mixed with recreational/open spaces will
promote community redevelopment. Initial loans
will target properties assessed underthe Brownfields
Assessment Pilot.
FUND STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS
The City of Charleston's Department of Housing and
Community Development will serve as lead agency.
The fund manager will be the Charleston Citywide
Local Development Corporation. The administrative
point of contact for site management will be
Charleston's EC Coordinator. Loans are expected to
range between $50,000 and $300,000.
LEVERAGING OTHER RESOURCES
The City will examine the use of tax increment
financing, bonds, US Department of Housing and
Urban Development Section 108 loans, and US
Department of Commerce Economic Development
Administration funds. The City also has grants
available, derived from its Community Development
Block Grant, that can provide $5,000 to $10,000 to new
businesses locating in the EC. Additional incentives
may be provided by the Charleston Naval Complex
Redevelopment Authority to encourage port-related
support industries to locate in the industrial park and
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's funding to coastal states for
brownfield redevelopment as part of waterfront
revitalization efforts.
Use ofBCRLF Pilot funds must be in accordance with
CERCLA, and all CERCLA restrictions on use of funding
also apply to BCRLF funds.
Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Pilot Charleston, South Carolina
May 2000 EPA 500-F-00-165
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