I JBt? | Brownfields 2007 Jc
V'/ City of Bridgeport, CT
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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
January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed
into law the Small Business Liability Relief and
Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields
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 City of Bridgeport was selected to receive a job
training grant. Located along southwest Connecticut's
"Gold Coast," economically depressed Bridgeport
(population 139,529) stands in stark contrast to its
affluent neighboring communities. The city, which
contains some of the nation's poorest neighborhoods,
has an average poverty rate of 25 percent, with certain
census tracts suffering from poverty rates of up to 80
percent. For over 150 years, Bridgeport served as a
major East Coast industrial center. During the period of
nationwide deindustrialization in the 1970s and 80s,
many of the city's factories closed and were left
abandoned. Many of these potentially contaminated
properties are located in or adjacent to the city's most
economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. With over
200 inventoried brownfields yet to be addressed and
numerous other properties contaminated with lead, the
local demand for skilled environmental technicians is
strong.
Training Grant Fact Sheet
Job Training Grant
$200,000
EPA has selected the City of Bridgeport for a job
training grant. The city plans to train 45 individuals,
place at least 35 in environmental jobs, and track
graduates for one year. Bridgeport will provide 110
hours of course work, including certifications in
HAZWOPER and lead and asbestos abatement.
Students will be recruited primarily from among
disadvantaged residents of Bridgeport
neighborhoods impacted by brownfields. Trainees
will be recruited through the Food Stamps and
Employment Program, allowing this grant funding to
assist the neediest residents of Bridgeport.
Bridgeport's Department of Social Services and
Action for Bridgeport Community Development,
Inc. (ABCD), will assist with placing graduates in
environmental j obs.
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/region 1 /brownfields)
Grant Recipient: City of Bridgeport,CT
(903) 457-3160
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	c
Environmental	anri Fmpflpn™	EPA 560-F-06-253
nil- a	ancl Emergency	.. _ _
Protection Agency	Response (5105T)	Nov 06
Washington, DC 20450	^ v '

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