Brownfields 2004 Grant Fact Sheet

Helena, AR

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
$200,000 for petroleum

EPA has selected the City of Helena for a brownfields assessment grant. Hazardous substances grant funds will be used to perform a community-wide inventory of sites, conduct Phase I and Phase II site assessments, and identify and secure additional funding for redevelopment in the twin cities of Helena and West Helena. Petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments and land reuse planning for seven petroleum-contaminated sites.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The City of Helena was selected to receive a brownfields assessment grant. The twin cities of Helena and West Helena (population 15,130) comprise a historic Delta community on the banks of the Mississippi River. The community represents the largest population base in Phillips County, the poorest county in Arkansas. The community is 59 percent African-American. Almost 33 percent of the residents live below the poverty level, and the median per capita income is $12,288. Over the last 30 years, the county has experienced a 34 percent decline in population. Much of the out-migration can be attributed first to the mechanization of agriculture where machines replaced low-skilled workers, and later to the exodus of manufacturers. The loss of the city's manufacturing base has left the community with abandoned commercial and industrial facilities. Revitalization of these sites is expected to result in job creation and the development of affordable housing. Because of the historic nature of the community, with its antebellum architecture and civil war history, tourism is also expected to be a major component of any revitalization strategy.

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: Helena, AR
870-816-1113

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