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  Brownfields  2004

  Grant  Fact Sheet

   Pulaski County, AR




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, the President
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 pro-
grams through a separate mechanism.

Community Description

Pulaski  County was selected to receive a brownfields
assessment grant. Pulaski County's population of
365,442 is more than 59 percent minority. Almost 34
percent  of its residents live in poverty.  The targeted
areas of Little Rock and North Little Rock are located
in a federally designated Empowerment Zone. To-
gether, these areas have a population of 237,536, and
most residents are low-income African-Americans.
The properties to be  assessed under this grant are
expected to be redeveloped to accommodate new
convention and tourism attractions and other commer-
cial facilities. This target area represents the most
significant reinvestment region in central Arkansas.
                      Assessment Grant
                      $200,000 for hazardous substances
                      $146,500 for petroleum

                      EPA has selected Pulaski County for a
                      brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous sub-
                      stances and petroleum grant funds will both be
                      used to conduct Phase I and Phase II site assess-
                      ments, cleanup planning, and outreach in a tradi-
                      tionally industrial area within the cities of Little
                      Rock and North Little Rock along the Arkansas
                      River. Once cleaned up, this area will be redevel-
                      oped to accommodate tourism and convention
                      activities.
                      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 6 Brownfields Team
                      214-665-2180
                      http://www.epa.gov/region6/brownfields

                      Grant Recipient: Pulaski County, AR
                      501-340-6157

                      The cooperative agreement for this grant has not
                      yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described
                      in this fact sheet are subject to change.
                                                 Solid Waste and
                                                 Emergency Response
                                                 (5105T)
                                            EPA560-F-04-178
                                            June 2004
                                            www.epa.gov/brownfields

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