] Brownfields 2011 Cleanup Grant Fact Sheet
* Community Improvement Association of Madison, AR
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 Community Improvement Association of Madison
was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. The
City of Madison (population 848) is a predominantly
African-American community about 90 miles east of
Little Rock. After the construction of anew interstate
highway that bypassed the city, local industries left
Madison. The lack of businesses has hindered the city's
ability to attract new businesses and residents. Madison's
population decreased by 14.1 percent between 2000 and
2009. Its median household income is $18,215, and 58.9
percent of its residents live below the poverty level.
Madison is a small community that lacks the resources to
clean up the target site. Blighted conditions require action
to renew the revenue base for the community. Cleanup of
the site will reduce threats to human health and is
expected to allow the city to move forward with plans to
redevelop the site into a multi-purpose center and park for
after-school programs, senior citizen activities, and
recreational use.
Cleanup Grant
$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Community Improvement
Association of Madison for a brownfields cleanup
grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be
used to clean up the former Butler Elementary
School at 104 School Drive. The site was an
elementary school from its construction in the
mid-1950s until the school was closed in the
mid-1990s. The school building is contaminated
with metals and inorganic materials. Grant funds
also will be used to conduct 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 6 Brownfields Team
(214) 665-6780
EPA Region 6 Brownfields Web site
(http://www.epa.gov/region6/bro wnfields)
Grant Recipient: Community Improvement
Association of Madison,AR
870-633-4539
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-128-100
May 2011
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