Brownfields 2010 Job Training Grant Fact Sheet ~ Groundwork Providence, Rl 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 Groundwork Providence was selected to receive a job training grant. Groundwork Providence is a nonprofit organization that is focusing its job training efforts on the Cities of Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Woonsocket. The Blackstone River, birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, links these communities, who share a legacy of environmental and economic problems common to former industrial regions. These four cities encompass the greatest centers of poverty and the largest concentration of contaminated properties in the State of Rhode Island. The cities of Providence and Woonsocket have poverty rates of nearly 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively. In the four cities, the percentage of residents who are minorities ranges from 20.8 to 48.6 percent, and the average unemployment rate is nearly 14 percent. Ongoing assessment and cleanup work at several brownfield sites are anticipated to provide a steady source of jobs for program graduates. The demand for workers trained in assessment, cleanup, and lead-safe deconstruction is expected to increase significantly during the next two years, providing job opportunities for graduates with these skills. Job Training Grant $200,000 EPA has selected Groundwork Providence for a job training grant. Groundwork Providence plans to train 54 students, place approximately 41 graduates in environmental jobs, and track graduates for at least one year. The training program will consist of four 15-week, 236-hour training cycles. Graduates will receive certifications in 40-hour HAZWOPER, 10-hour OSHA construction safety, lead supervisor/contractor, asbestos supervisor/contractor, and mold remediation. Training partners include Innovative Safety Services, Inc., the Community College of Rhode Island, and industry experts. Students will be recruited from among unemployed and underemployed residents of Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Woonsocket, with an emphasis on residents who are disadvantaged, minorities, veterans, or ex-offenders. To place graduates in environmental jobs, Groundwork Providence will work with its network of community partners and the state's One Stop Career Center. 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 1 Brownfields Team (617)918-1424 EPA Region 1 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/regionl/bro wnfields) Grant Recipient: Groundwork Providence,RI (401)351-6440 The information presented in this fact sheet comes from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20450 Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5105T) EPA 560-F-10-244 April 2010 ------- 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) EPA 560-F-10-244 April 2010 ------- |