SB, HI C3 Brownfields 2003 Grant Fact Sheet Los Angeles, CA 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. A brownfield 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 job training grants provide training for residents of commu- nities affected by brownfields to prepare them for employment in the assessment and cleanup of brownfields sites. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The Los Angeles Community Development Depart- ment was selected to receive a job training grant. The Los Angeles EZ is a 19 square-mile area, with a population of 200,000. Demographic statistics show a median household income of $15,991 and a 40% overall poverty rate. Almost two-thirds of EZ residents have not graduated from high school. The city contains thousands of properties in need of environmental assessment or remediation, and many of these lie within the EZ. The city is committed to cleaning up brownfields sites, and within the EZ alone, the city has targeted three large sites for assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment. Environmental employers in the area will Job Training Grant {2003 $200,000 EPA has selected the Los Angeles Community Development Department for a brownfields job training grant. The Community Development Department plans to train 50 students, achieve an 80% placement rate, and track students for a full year. The seven-week, 300-hour job training program will consist of hazardous waste han- dling, innovative environmental technologies, lead abatement, and asbestos abatement. Recruitment will focus on low-income residents of the city's federal Empowerment Zone (EZ) and five state Enterprise Zones. Placement will be conducted by the city's WorkSource Centers. 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 9 Brownfields Team 415-972-3188 http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/brown/ Grant Recipient: Los Angeles Community Development Department 213-485-5019 Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the City of Los Angeles also received funding for assessment, showcase community, and job training grants. need additional skilled environmental technicians to fill the many jobs that will be required to conduct these projects. The Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency will require environmental employers to hire local residents. The grant will train local residents impacted by brownfields for positions needed to address the community's Brownfields Pilot needs. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 500-F-03-026 May 2003 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |