SB,
HI
C3
Brownfields 2004
Grant Fact Sheet
Oregon Tradeswomen,
Inc., Portland, OR
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 job
training grants provide training for residents of commu-
nities affected by brownfields to prepare them for
employment in the assessment and cleanup of
brownfield sites. Additionally, funding support is
provided to state and tribal response programs through
a separate mechanism.
Community Description
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. (OTI) was selected to
receive a job training grant. OTI is a community-based
nonprofit organization located within Portland's Enter-
prise Community. OTI will target residents of
Portland's North, Northeast (N/NE) community, most
of which is within a federally designated Enterprise
Community. Forty-one percent of N/NE community
residents are minorities, which is the highest concentra-
tion of minorities in the State of Oregon. The commu-
nity suffers from a 17% poverty rate. North and
Northeast Portland contain 113 identified brownfields.
Job Training Grant
$196,440
EPA has selected Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. for
a job training grant. OTI plans to train 60 students
with the EPA grant, achieve a 70% graduation
rate, achieve a 57% placement rate, and track
students for at least two years. Three 7-week,
184-hour training cycles will be offered at nearby
training sites, including two located within the
Enterprise Community. The curriculum includes
an introduction to brownfields, 40-hour
HAZWOPER certification, confined space entry,
OSHA health and safety, and hazardous waste
worker. OTI will recruit residents from Portland's
North, Northeast community. At least half of the
recruits will be people of color and half will be
female. The Northwest Environmental Business
Council will assist with placement of graduates in
environmental j obs.
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 10 Brownfields Team
206-553-2100
www.epa.gov/rlOearth, click on "Superfund",
scroll down and click on "Brownfields"
Grant Recipient: Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.
503-335-8200x22
The demand for skilled hazardous waste workers is
expected to be high because several large brownfields
redevelopment projects are beginning. These include
redevelopment of the North Macadam district, demoli-
tion of a Reynolds Aluminum plant, revitalization of
Portland's waterfront, the HOPE VI development of
900 residential units, and redevelopment projects
related to a new public light rail line in Portland's
largest urban renewal area.
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5105T)
EPA500-F-04-013
March 2004
www.epa.gov/brownfields
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