I JBt? | Brownfields 2006 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet \7% Ranson, WV 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 Ranson was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. Located in eastern West Virginia, Ranson (population 6,500) is in the process of redeveloping a blighted brownfields area into a "Commerce Corridor." The poverty rate in Ranson is 37.7 percent, and 15 percent of residents within walking distance of the targeted brownfields area live below the poverty level. The minority population in this area is 20 percent. Brownfields pose a danger to public health and the environment and have had detrimental economic effects on the community. Redevelopment plans for this area include construction of the first multiplex theater in the county, a farmers market-style retail area, affordable housing, new county facilities, a parking structure, a 150,000-square-foot technology center, new stream-side parkland, a public skate park, and a public gymnasium. Brownfields redevelopment will create jobs, and remove blight and environmental threats from the community. Assessment Grant $200,000 for hazardous substances EPA has selected the City of Ranson for a brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to conduct Phase II environmental site assessments at two sites and to develop cleanup and reuse plans for at least three sites. Grant funds also will be used to implement 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 3 Brownfields Team (215)814-3129 EPA Region 3 Brownfields Web site (http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bf -lr) Grant Recipient: City of Ranson,WV (304)725-1010 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-06-066 Protection Agency Response (5105T) May 2006 Washington, DC 20450 Kesponse (si us ) ------- |