Brownfields 2009 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet Greensboro, NC 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 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 Greensboro was selected to receive two brownfields assessment grants. Located in Guilford County, Greensboro (population 238,500) is focusing its assessment efforts on its reinvestment areas and corridors, which are primarily in south and east Greensboro. They include vacant, underused, or abandoned commercial areas along major thoroughfares. Many are surrounded by substandard housing. There are more than 500 commercial or industrial sites in these areas. They include manufactured gas plants, automobile service stations and repair facilities, and dry cleaners. Nearly 83 percent of the residents of neighborhoods adjacent to the target areas are minorities. Almost 20 percent live below the poverty level, and the average per capita income is 68 percent of the city average. The stigma attached to these sites has lowered property values and hindered investment. Brownfield assessments will allow the city to identify contaminated sites, and provide support for current redevelopment efforts in the area. They also are expected to spur an increase in private investment in the target corridors. Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances (Recovery Act Funding) $200,000 for petroleum (Recovery Act Funding) EPA has selected the City of Greensboro for two brownfields assessment grants. Community-wide hazardous substances and petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct eight Phase I and six Phase II environmental site assessments in the city's targeted reinvestment areas and corridors. Grant funds also will be used 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: City of Greensboro, North Carolina (336)373-2751 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-09-166 May 2009 ------- |