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Brownfields 2007
Grant Fact Sheet
Bridgeport, CT
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. 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
The City of Bridgeport was selected to receive a job
training grant. Located along southwest Connecticut's
"Gold Coast," economically depressed Bridgeport
(population 139,529) stands in stark contrast to its
j
Job Training Grant
$200,000
EPA has selected the City of Bridgeport for a job
training grant. The city plans to train 45 individu-
als, place at least 35 in environmental jobs, and
track graduates for one year. Bridgeport will
provide 110 hours of course work, including
certifications in HAZWOPER and lead and
asbestos abatement. Students will be recruited
primarily from among disadvantaged residents of
Bridgeport neighborhoods impacted by
brownfields. Trainees will be recruited through the
Food Stamps and Employment Program, allowing
this grant funding to assist the neediest residents
of Bridgeport. Bridgeport's Department of Social
Services and Action for Bridgeport Community
Development, Inc. (ABCD), will assist with
placing graduates in environmental jobs.
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 1 Brownfields Team
617-918-1305
http://www.epa.gov/region01/brownfields/
Grant Recipient: City of Bridgeport, CT
203-576-7471
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
in this fact sheet are subject to change.
affluent neighboring communities. The city, which
contains some of the nation's poorest neighborhoods,
has an average poverty rate of 25 percent, with certain
census tracts suffering from poverty rates of up to 80
percent. For over 150 years, Bridgeport served as a
major East Coast industrial center. During the period of
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA 560-F-06-253
November 2006
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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nationwide deindustrialization in the 1970s and 80s.
many of the city's factories closed and were left
abandoned. Many of these potentially contaminated
properties are located in or adjacent to the city's most
economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. With over
200 inventoried brownfields yet to be addressed and
numerous other properties contaminated with lead, the
local demand for skilled environmental technicians is
strong.
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