I | Brownfields 2008 Job Training Grant Fact Sheet

Cypress Mandela Training Center, Inc., Oakland, CA

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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 Cypress Mandela Training Center, Inc. (CMTC), was
selected to receive a job training grant. CMTC is located
in Oakland (population 411,755), which is a federally
designated Enhanced Enterprise Community. CMTC's
brownfields job training program will focus on West
Oakland, the city's most economically challenged
community. The poverty rate in this neighborhood is
nearly 40 percent, and the unemployment rate is more
than 20 percent. Approximately 94 percent of West
Oakland residents are minorities. The area contains
numerous brownfields, is frequented by illegal dumpers,
and is exposed to high levels of diesel emissions. Oakland
has more than 500 sites that are contaminated or suspected
to be contaminated. Most of these sites are located in West
and East Oakland along former industrial corridors.
According to the state, the demand for environmental
workers in Oakland will increase in the coming years,
indicating a strong job market for environmental
technicians.

Job Training Grant

$200,000

EPA has selected the Cypress Mandela Training
Center, Inc. (CMTC), for a job training grant.
CMTC plans to train 100 students, place 80
graduates in environmental jobs, and track
graduates for one year. The training program will
consist of five 16-week, 640-hour training cycles
leading to certifications for hazardous waste
worker, lead cleanup, asbestos removal, and
confined space entry. The primary trainers will be
Cypress Mandela and the Center to Protect
Workers' Rights. Cypress Mandela and its partners
will recruit students from economically
disadvantaged inner-city neighborhoods, with a
focus on minorities and women. The Oakland
Private Industry Council also will refer students to
the program. Cypress Mandela will work with the
Alameda County Building and Construction
Trades Council, the Associated General
Contractors and Minority Contractors
Associations, and other business organizations to
place graduates in environmental jobs.

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 9 Brownfields Team
(415) 972-3091

EPA Region 9 Brownfields Web site
(http://www.epa.gov/region9/bro wnfields )

Grant Recipient: Cypress Mandela Training
Center, Inc.,CA
(510) 208-7350

The information presented in this fact sheet comes
from the grant proposal; EPA cannot attest to the
accuracy of this information. The cooperative

United States	c

Environmental	anri Fmpflpn™	EPA 560-F-08-234

Protection Agency	Response (5105D	February 2008

Washington, DC 20450	Kesponse (si us )


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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-08-234

Protection Agency	Response (5105D	February 2008

Washington, DC 20450	Kesponse (si us )


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