Brownfields 2004 Grant Fact Sheet

Faith City International Ministries, Baton Rouge, LA

EPA BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM

EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic development 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, the President 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.

CLEANUP GRANT

$97,373 for hazardous substances

EPA has selected the Faith City International Ministries for a brownfields cleanup grant. Hazardous substances cleanup grant funds will be used to clean up the former Juban Lumber Company site in East Baton Rouge, which also was previously used as a welding equipment repair company, and an automotive and machinery repair shop. Previous assessments have identified pesticides, asbestos, lead, and semi-volatiles at the site. Grant funds will also be used for preparation of a final report, and community outreach activities. The site will be redeveloped into a job training facility for area residents.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The Faith City International Ministries was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. The targeted area is the inner-city community of Istrouma in East Baton Rouge, where more than 98 percent of the 28,553 residents live in poverty. Approximately 97 percent of Istrouma residents lack high school diplomas, and the area suffers from high rates of unemployment, violence, drug abuse, and prostitution. According to current estimates, there are 400 brownfield sites in the East Baton Rouge Parish. Redevelopment will encourage capital investment, provide jobs, increase property values, and improve the neighborhood.

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 at: www.epa.gov/brownfields.

EPA Region 6 Brownfields Team
214-665-2180
http://www.epa.gov/region6/brownfields

Grant Recipient: Faith City International Ministries, LA
225-356-1655

The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.