A) Brownfields 2009 Job Training Grant Fact Sheet St. Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corporation, North Brooklyn, NY RECOUERY.GOV EPA Brownfields Program EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states. communities, and other stakeholders 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 February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Recovery Act is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, and create or save millions of jobs. This law provided stimulus funds to the Brownfields Program to award grants to train unemployed or underemployed individuals to evaluate and clean up former industrial and commercial sites. Under this law, EPA will provide financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants. Community Description The St. Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corporation (St. Nicks) was selected to receive a job training grant. St. Nicks' job training program will serve areas of North Brooklyn (population 160,000) where the median income is approximately $16,000, and 75 percent of residents live below the poverty level. The area has been a major manufacturing location for centuries and contains numerous brownfields and other sites in need of assessment and cleanup. Many vacant and underutilized properties are located near disadvantaged communities. Labor market information cites environmental jobs, including hazardous material transportation, as one of the fastest-growing job sectors. Hazardous waste removal, construction, and extraction workers in the state are expected to increase by 1,100 workers annually, demonstrating the need for skilled workers. St. Nicks' strong employment partnerships with local business owners and remediation firms will facilitate placement of graduates in environmental jobs. Job Training Grant $500,000 EPA has selected the St. Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corporation (St. Nicks) for a job training grant. St. Nicks plans to train 244 participants, graduate 195 students, and place 146 graduates in environmental careers. It will track graduates for at least two years. Six 12-week, 450-hour cycles of environmental remediation technician training will include six to nine certifications, and enroll at least 180 students. Four eight-week, 160-hour cycles of commercial truck driving training will enroll at least 54 students. One 12-week, 320-hour cycle of photovoltaic solar panel installation training will include one to two certifications for 10 students. All tracks will offer FIAZWOPER. Training partners are Ando International, National Vocational Driving School, City University of New York, and Solar One. St. Nicks will work with local and regional employers, local unions, and the Partnership of Brownfield Practitioners to place 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 (http://www.epa.gov/brownfields). EPA Region 2 Brownfields Team (212) 637-4358 EPA Region 2 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region2/brownfields) Grant Recipient: St. Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corporation/Williamsburg Works,NY (718) 388-5454 ext 102 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 negotiated. United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20450 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-09-482 Aug 09 ------- Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20450 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-09-482 Aug 09 ------- |