Brownfields 2009 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet ™ Grady County Joint Development Authority, GA 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. In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed to help states and communities around the country cleanup and revitalize brownfields sites. Under this 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 Grady County Joint Development Authority was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located in the southwest corner of Georgia, the City of Cairo is the seat of Grady County (population 25,042). Cairo was nicknamed "Syrup City" because of its cane syrup production from the early 1900s through the late 1990s. As factories closed and urban areas began to decline, residents left the city. Brownfields in Cairo include service stations, a fuel depot, dry cleaners, and a fertilizer plant. Uncertainties related to contamination have deterred investment in the area, contributing to the community's blight. Thirty percent of Cairo residents live below the poverty level, and 56 percent of residents are minorities. The unemployment rate is significantly higher in Cairo than in the county or state. Brownfield assessments will help the Authority understand the extent and nature of contamination at sites. Assessments also will help identify potential site reuses, thereby facilitating cleanup and redevelopment. Assessment Grants $200,000 for hazardous substances $200,000 for petroleum EPA has selected the Grady County Joint Development Authority for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct a brownfields inventory and at least 12 Phase I and 6 Phase II environmental site assessments throughout Grady County, with an emphasis on the City of Cairo. Grant funds also will be used to conduct cleanup planning, and to support community outreach 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 (http://www.epa.gov/brownfields). EPA Region 4 Brownfields Team (404) 562-8792 EPA Region 4 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/region4/was te/bf) Grant Recipient: Grady County Joint Development Authority,GA (229) 377-3663 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-09-182 May 2009 ------- |