SB, HI C3 Brownfields 2003 Grant Fact Sheet Sa/'rtf Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corporation, New York, NY 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 con- taminant. 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 communities 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 mission of Saint Nicholas Neighborhood Preserva- tion Corporation is to revitalize the Greenpoint- Williamsburg community. The population of Greater Wiliamsburg is 225,000 predominately Hispanic and African American residents of low-to-moderate in- comes. The median household income is considerably lower than New York City's, reflecting a combination of low educational attainment and a need for training in marketable jobs. The Greater Williamsburg area con- tains many industrial parks and other manufacturing and industrial operations that use hazardous chemicals. The area also is home to four major environmental remediation companies. These firms have expressed interest in hiring local trained technicians to fill a chronic Job Training Grant {2003 $200,000 EPA has selected the Saint Nicholas Neighbor- hood Preservation Corporation for a brownfields job training grant. Saint Nicholas plans to train 80 students, achieve a 70% placement rate in environment-related jobs, and track students for two years. The 250-hour training program will include hazardous materials handling, lead abatement, and asbestos air sampling and abatement. Students will be recruited from disadvantaged residents of North Brooklyn and placed in environmentally related jobs by Williamsburg Works, the workforce development arm of Saint Nicholas. 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 2 Brownfields Team 212-637-4314 http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/ brownfields/ Grant Recipient: Saint Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corporation 718-302-2057x210 Prior to receipt of these funds in fiscal year 2003, the Saint Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corpora- tion also received funding for j ob training grants. shortage of skilled labor in the environmental remediation field, particularly since 9/11. The Saint Nicholas NPC service delivery area is within a state-designated Empire Zone, which provides incentives to employers to hire local workers. The grant will link job training of local residents with the many brownfields assessment and cleanup needs. Two of New York City's Brownfields Pilots are in the Saint Nicholas Neighborhood Preserva- tion Corporation's service area. Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 500-F-03-027 May 2003 www.epa.gov/brownfields ------- |