I | Brownfields 2008 Job Training Grant Fact Sheet Cypress Mandela Training Center, Inc., Oakland, CA r*> r* PRO1* 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 ) ------- 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 ) ------- |