Brownfields 2003 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Florence, SC 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 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. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism. Community Description The City of Florence was selected to receive an assessment grant. Florence (population 30,248) is located in eastern South Carolina, approximately 80 miles east of Columbia. The city grew up at the juncture of three major railroads. The downtown area established itself as the economic and cultural center of the eight-county "Pee Dee" region of South Carolina, so named after the local Pee Dee Indians. Cotton and tobacco cultivation, along with railroad industries, dominated the economy until the late 1950s. Today, much of the commercial and industrial base has moved away from downtown Florence, resulting in high unemployment and numerous brownfields. Minorities comprise nearly 45 percent of the city's population. Florence's median household income is lower than the state's median. The city hopes to spur economic growth and community development by redeveloping seven targeted areas in the downtown area. In particular, the city is focusing on redeveloping a 20-acre underused site that serves as a barrier to the disadvantaged African-American community. Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Florence for a brownfields assessment grant. The city intends to use grant funds to perform environmental site assessments on brownfields in seven targeted areas of the city, including a 20-acre site that inhibits economic growth in a nearby low-income, predominately minority neighborhood. Grant funds also will be used for community outreach activities, cleanup planning, and health monitoring. 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 4 Brownfields Team (404) 562-8792 EPA Region 4 Brownfields Web site (http: //www. epa.gov/region4/waste/bf) Grant Recipient: Florence, SC (843)665-3113 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. 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 500-F-03-094 Jun 03 ------- |