Brownfields Job Training and Development
Demonstration Pilot Fact Sheet

PILOT SNAPSHOT
Phillipsburg and Middlesex County	Date of Announcement: May 2000 Amount: $200,000
Profile: The Pilot will train at least 40 participants as environmental technicians. Students will be recruited from among young, unskilled residents between the ages of 18-25 residing in both the Town of Phillipsburg and Middlesex County, both of which are economically depressed because of a continuing decline in manufacturing activities.

BACKGROUND

EPA has selected the New Jersey Youth Corps for a Brownfields Job Training and Development Demonstration Pilot. The New Jersey Youth Corps will partner with the Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot programs of Middlesex County and the Town of Phillipsburg. The New Jersey Youth Corps is a program of the State of New Jersey’s Department of Human Services, Office of Education and provides youth job training and career development programs throughout the state. The Job Training Pilot will focus on the Town of Phillipsburg (population 16,000) and the Raritan River Strategic Planning Area (population 92,000) in the eastern portion of Middlesex County. The Town of Phillipsburg is located on the Delaware River in northwestern New Jersey. The decline of manufacturing, including steel, has directly contributed to urban decline. The town’s unemployment continues to exceed the state-wide average. Middlesex County is located in central New Jersey and is comprised of 25 municipalities. Almost six percent of Middlesex County residents, primarily African-Americans or Hispanics, live at or below the poverty level.

The Raritan River Strategic Planning Area historically was the center of industry and commerce in Middlesex County. The former heavily industrialized region has suffered a significant decline in activity for the past 30 years, leaving many industrial facilities abandoned and contaminated. The Middlesex County assessment pilot is focused on redevelopment of properties within this strategic area. In Phillipsburg, eight contaminated sites have been identified within the 3.2 square mile extent of the town. Phillipsburg has been designated an Urban Enterprise Zone by the state. Currently, there are few programs in the state that focus on providing job skills to young, unskilled residents who are not in the mainstream of educational opportunities. The Pilot will provide career training for livable wage jobs for young, unskilled residents in the assessments and cleanups being conducted through the two Brownfields Assessment Pilots.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES

The New Jersey Youth Corps plans to train at least 40 participants, achieve an 80 percent placement rate, and support career placement of graduates for one year after the training is completed. Participants will be recruited from among young, unskilled residents between the ages of 18-25 residing in both Phillipsburg and Middlesex County. The Pilot training program will consist of science and math concepts, the 40-hour OSHA health and safety training, preliminary assessment and remediation investigation courses, ASTM auditing, site characterization, measurements and instrumentation, risk communication, and remedial selection. The 150-hour training program will include training in the use of innovative assessment and cleanup technologies. In addition, students will complete 150 hours of community service that will focus on environmental activities.

New Jersey Youth Corps training efforts will be supported by organizations such as New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), New Brunswick Council for Youth, Middlesex County Community College, New Jersey Department of Labor One Stop Career Center in Phillipsburg, and the New Jersey Department of Human Services. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has committed to assisting the training program. In addition, local unions have offered their assistance.

ACTIVITIES

Activities planned as part of this Pilot include:

• Conducting outreach to recruit young, unskilled residents between the ages of 18-25 residing in both Phillipsburg and Middlesex County;
• Conducting brownfields technician training, including courses in the use of innovative assessment and cleanup technologies; and
• Supporting career placement of students for one year after the job training is completed.

CONTACTS

New Jersey Youth Corps
(609) 588-3198

Regional Brownfields Team
U.S. EPA - Region 2
(212) 637-4291

Visit the EPA Region 2 Brownfields web site at:

http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/brownfields/

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

For further information, including specific grant contacts, additional grant information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site.