Brownfields 2004 Grant Fact Sheet

Guin, AL

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.

ASSESSMENT GRANT

$200,000 for hazardous substances

EPA has selected the City of Guin for a brownfields assessment grant. Grant funds will be used to perform Phase I and II site assessments of a former textile mill. To the extent that grant funds permit, additional Phase I and II assessments will be conducted at additional properties within the city. Grant funds will also be used to conduct a health study to determine the health impact to residents living near brownfields properties, and to conduct community outreach activities.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The City of Guin was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. About 75 percent of the city's 2,356 residents are unemployed. The area has experienced a significant loss of jobs, and the city's population is declining because workers must leave the area to find employment. The textile and garment industries that have moved out left behind several abandoned and environmentally impacted properties. The city hopes to redevelop the former mill site into a mixed-use retail area that will attract new businesses, improve the appearance of the downtown area, create jobs, identify potential health risks, and strengthen the community.

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 4 Brownfields Team
404-562-8493
http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/bf/index.htm

Grant Recipient: Guin, AL
205-468-3315

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