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Brownfields 2008 Job Training Grant Fact Sheet
Southern University at Shreveport, LA
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
Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA) was selected
to receive a job training grant. Located in Caddo Parish in
northwest Louisiana, Shreveport is the third largest city in
the state with a population of 200,199. Approximately 58
percent of the city's residents are minorities. The
percentages of families and individuals living below the
poverty level in Shreveport are 19.6 percent and 23.9
percent, respectively, and the unemployment rate across
Caddo Parish is over 11 percent. These rates are much
higher, however, near the brownfields-impacted areas
targeted by this grant. SUSLA plans to help address
environmental justice issues faced by low-income,
minority, and socio-economically disadvantaged
residents. Since Hurricane Katrina, Shreveport has
become a major city for film production. According to the
city, there is a strong need for skilled environmental
technicians with the certifications necessary to address
contamination in older buildings in the downtown area
that potentially will be used by the film industry.
Job Training Grant
$199,999
EPA has selected Southern University at
Shreveport (SUSLA) for a job training grant.
SUSLA plans to train 37 students, place 31
graduates in environmental jobs, and track them
for one year. The training program will consist of
three, 121-hour training cycles comprising
technical instruction in HAZWOPER, OSHA
safety, asbestos abatement supervisor, CPR, and
first aid. Students will be recruited from low-
to-moderate-income populations living in areas
impacted by brownfields. SUSLA's Intake
Assistance and Supportive Services Center will
provide support services for students, including
career counseling, job placement assistance, and
job readiness and life skills training. Three area
employers-Abatement Services, Inc., ALTEC
Environmental, and SRP Environmental-have
expressed interest in partnering with SUSLA and
hiring trained graduates.
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: Southern University at
Shreveport,LA
(318) 678-4674
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
United States	c
Environmental	anri Fmpflpn™	EPA 560-F-08-232
Protection Agency	Response (5105D	February 2008
Washington, DC 20450	Kesponse (si us )

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fact sheet are subject to change.
United States	c
Environmental	anri Fmpflpn™	EPA 560-F-08-232
Protection Agency	Response (5105T)	February 2008
Washington, DC 20450	Kesponse (si us )

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