Brownfields 2006 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, Shreveport, LA 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 Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana was selected to receive two brownfields cleanup grants. The Foundation is in the process of creating a science park for technology-based business in the City of Shreveport (population 200,145). Eighty-eight percent of residents in the target area census tract of downtown Shreveport are minorities. The poverty rate is 47 percent, and the average per capita income is $10,349, less than one-half of the national average. The targeted brownfields are in a severely disadvantaged area (population 2,026), surrounded by ten neighborhoods that are eligible for community development block grants. Cleanup of the sites will help prevent releases of hazardous contaminants to the environment, thereby eliminating potential risks to the community. Redevelopment of the targeted brownfields will help complete the revitalization of the core of the science park's Tech Center. These brownfields are located adjacent to a laboratory incubator that has a tenant that is planning to expand and employ 150 people in 2006. The science park redevelopment is part of a 25-year plan that, when completed, will provide employment for 6,000 people and generate millions of dollars in tax revenues. The Foundation estimates that approximately 40 percent of the jobs created will require only a high school degree, making them appropriate for the target community. The plans also include parks and Cleanup Grants $362,218 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana for two brownfields cleanup grants. Grant funds will be used to conduct community outreach activities, develop cleanup plans, and remove hazardous substances from the former Caddo Parish Health Unit on Kings Highway in Shreveport. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community outreach, develop cleanup plans, remove and dispose of 700 cubic yards of contaminated soil, and install monitoring wells at the former Wilson Foods site on Kings Highway. 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 6 Brownfields Team (214) 665-6780 EPA Region 6 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region6/bro wnfields) Grant Recipient: Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana (318)675-4105 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) EPA560-F-06-143 May 2006 ------- open spaces that will be available to both employees and neighborhood residents. United States Q ., . ,A/__t,. Environmental bona waste EPA 560-F-06-143 _, and Emergency ~™^ Protection Agency ResDonse(51oVn May 2006 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (bl Ob I) ------- |