A \ Brownfields 2009 Job Training Grant
.SB/ Fact Sheet
Long Beach, CA
RECOUERY.GOV
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
February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into
law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The
Recovery Act is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our
economy, and create or save millions of jobs. This law
provided stimulus funds to the Brownfields Program to
award grants to train unemployed or underemployed
individuals to evaluate and clean up former industrial and
commercial sites. Under this law, EPA will provide
financial assistance to eligible applicants through four
competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving
loan fund grants, cleanup grants, and job training grants.
Community Description
The City of Long Beach was selected to receive a job
training grant. Located in southern Los Angeles County,
Long Beach (population 492,912) is a diverse urban
community that has a 12.1 percent unemployment rate.
Approximately 69 percent of city residents are minorities.
In the target area, 45.6 percent of individuals live in
poverty. Residents face significant barriers to
employment, which is compounded by close proximity to
numerous brownfields. The city also has some of the
highest levels of airborne particulate matter and ozone in
the country. Labor market information for the Long Beach
area demonstrates an increase in environmental and green
job opportunities. Environmental technician jobs are
expected to grow by nearly 18 percent through 2016, and
hazardous materials removal worker jobs are expected to
grow by 6 percent, indicating demand for graduates of the
city's job training program.
Job Training Grant
$452,272.00
EPA has selected the City of Long Beach for a job
training grant. Through the proposed Long Beach
Bioneers Academy, the city plans to train 100
participants, graduate 70 students, place 53
graduates in environmental jobs, and track
graduates for one year after job placement. The
training program will consist of four 26-week,
350-hour cycles over two years. Courses will
include OSHA 30-hour health and safety
certification, HAZWOPER certification, and
asbestos, lead, and mold abatement certification.
All training will be conducted by qualified
providers and will include 60 hours of on-site
experience. Students will be recruited from
residents of the central part of the city.
Employment specialists and business service team
members in the Pacific Gateway Workforce
Investment Network will connect with the
business community and an extensive network of
environmental employers to place graduates with
appropriate employers.
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 9 Brownfields Team
(415) 972-3091
EPA Region 9 Brownfields Web site
(http://www.epa.gov/region9/bro wnfields)
Grant Recipient: City of Long Beach, CA
(562) 570-4788
The information presented in this fact sheet comes
from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the
accuracy of this information. The cooperative
United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, DC 20450
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5105T)
EPA 560-F-09-490
August 2009
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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)
EPA 560-F-09-490
August 2009
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