Brownfields 2005 Grant Fact Sheet

Fletcher, NC

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, 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.

CLEANUP GRANT

$200,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the Town of Fletcher for a brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds will be used for community outreach activities, site planning/remedial design, and cleanup of a 28.5-acre former log home manufacturing facility located at 91 Municipal Drive. Funds also will be used to monitor the health of residents exposed to hazardous substances or pollutants.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

The Town of Fletcher was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Fletcher, with a population of approximately 4,200, is located in western North Carolina between the cities of Asheville and Hendersonville. Fletcher has been fortunate to have a strong industrial base over the years; however, recent trends have shown significant losses in the manufacturing sector. Rapid population growth threatens the town's natural capital while rural economic distress and loss of high-paying jobs create pressure to accommodate development. In addition, the recent widening of U.S. Highway 25 resulted in the elimination of what once was the historic town center. The target site, called the "Heart of Fletcher," is a former log home manufacturing facility that the town envisions redeveloping into a new downtown area. The city expects to build a town hall, police station, and community center on the site, as well as residential, commercial, retail, and recreational facilities. Redevelopment will spur job growth, increase the town's housing stock, and provide a public green for town gatherings.

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
404-562-8684
http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/bf/index.htm

Grant Recipient: Town of Fletcher, NC
828-251-6622

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