Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Brownfields

Rebuilding Puerto Rico

PathStone’s Environmental Job Training Program

EPA Grant Recipient:
PathStone

Grants:

  • Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants—$791,310
  • Brownfields Job Training Grant—$500,000

Additional Funding Source:
Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program—$500,000

Download Success Story: Brownfields Job Training Grants Create Double Benefits in Puerto Rico (pdf) (1.37 MB)

After years of environmental neglect and a string of hurricanes, Puerto Rican communities needed help. In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit the island, leading to severe contamination of drinking water, the air and food supplies, with more than 150 brownfield sites posing added risks. The recovery required skilled workers and resources to ensure safety and rebuild.

The Solution: PathStone’s Role

PathStone, a nonprofit serving Puerto Rico’s economically distressed communities since 1969, stepped in to meet the need. With the support of an EPA Brownfields Job Training Grant, PathStone designed a training program to prepare local residents for safe, well-paid environmental cleanup jobs. This training covered essential skills, such as hazardous waste handling, asbestos remediation and pesticide safety.

PathStone, a nonprofit organization, is helping local residents get jobs to clean up contamination.
PathStone, a nonprofit organization, is helping local residents get jobs to clean up contamination.

Community-Centered Approach

PathStone works closely with local groups to understand and meet community needs. For trainees facing transportation and food insecurity, PathStone collaborates with municipalities and local organizations to provide public transport, food and other support. Training is hands-on, including simulations to build students’ confidence and practical skills for the cleanup work ahead.

Real Impact on Residents’ Lives

The program has transformed lives by helping trainees secure better-paying jobs, with some graduates moving from minimum wage to $19 an hour or more. Leslie Eunice Félix Rodríguez, a graduate trained in hazardous waste operations, welding and pesticide safety, calls her experience “spectacular.” Her certifications have opened doors, offering valuable skills in environmental work. PathStone’s training equips individuals like Leslie with tools to build lasting careers.

Juan José Morales Montañez

Kenya Ortiz Márquez

Leslie Eunice Félix Rodríguez

Laura Rodríguez

PathStone’s Results

With over $1.2 million in EPA grants and additional funding, PathStone has built a resilient workforce prepared to protect Puerto Rico. The program’s success is seen in each graduate’s progress-from minimum-wage jobs to higher-paying careers that support their families and communities.

“Despite economic and educational barriers, my peers had the courage to do what seemed to them like impossible tasks to better their lives.”

— Naysabeth Vargas Mejías, Program Graduate and Placement and Career Service Developer at PathStone
PathStone and EPA are empowering communities to transform brownfield sites into thriving, safe environments.
PathStone and EPA are empowering communities to transform brownfield sites into thriving, safe environments.

A Journey of Resilience and Impact

PathStone’s journey to support Puerto Rico’s communities shows that persistence pays off. After an initial setback in 2014, PathStone secured five EPA awards, transforming opportunities and lives across the island. Despite challenges like hurricanes, each grant fuels growth, community resilience and progress toward a sustainable future.

OBLR-Pathstone-Success-Story-timeline.jpg

Text-Only Version of Timeline Graphic

Tips for Aspiring Grantees

For organizations interested in EPA Brownfields Job Training Grants, PathStone advises engaging closely with community leaders to gather insights that shape relevant, locally focused training programs. Tailor certifications and skills to the area’s specific employment needs to ensure graduates are well-prepared for job opportunities and long-term impact.

To learn more, visit our Job Training Grants page or contact the EPA Region 2 office at 212-637-3283 or email Mitchell.Schenine@epa.gov.

Brownfields

  • About
    • Accomplishments
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Program History
    • Contact Us
    • Laws & Regulations
      • All Appropriate Inquiries
      • Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: A Historic Investment in Brownfields
      • Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act
      • Summary of the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act
  • Grants and Funding
    • Types of Funding
    • Brownfields Job Training Grants
      • Interested in Applying for Brownfields Job Training Funding?
      • Frequently Asked Questions About Brownfields Job Training (JT) Grants
      • List of Eligible and Ineligible Brownfield Job Training Courses
      • Technical Assistance Resources
      • Technical Assistance Inquiry Form
      • Job Training Grants Professional Learning Community
      • Job Training Grants Webinars
      • Job Training Program Contacts
    • Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants)
    • MARC Grant Application Resources
      • Tips on How to Get Started Early on Preparing Your Brownfields MARC Grant Application
      • Frequently Asked Questions About Multipurpose, Assessment, RLF, and Cleanup Grants
      • Programmatic Requirements for Brownfield Grants
    • Program & Funding Resources
      • EPA-Recommended Mapping Tools
    • Eligibility
      • Eligible Planning Activities
      • Information on Sites Eligible for Brownfields Funding under CERCLA § 104(k)
    • Current & Upcoming Funding Opportunities
      • Tips for Submitting Brownfields Grant Applications Through Grants.gov
    • Past Funding Opportunities
    • Brownfields Grant Fact Sheet Search
  • Technical Assistance
    • Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities (TAB) Program
    • Nationwide Brownfields Technical Assistance Providers
    • Targeted Brownfields Assessment
    • Land Revitalization Technical Assistance
    • CERCLA Section 128(a) Technical Assistance Grants ("TAG")
  • Brownfields Newsroom
  • Land Revitalization
  • Brownfields Near You
    • State and Tribal Brownfields Response Programs
    • Brownfields Contacts in EPA Regional Offices
    • Region 1
      • EPA, State & Tribal Contacts in New England
      • Funding History
      • Grantee Forms in New England
      • Program Information in New England
      • Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBAs)
    • Region 2
    • Region 3
      • Contact List
      • Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBAs) - Eligibility
      • Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBAs) - How to Apply Criteria
    • Region 4
      • Region 4 Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) Tool Box
      • Regional Conferences
      • Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBAs)
    • Region 5
      • Contact List
    • Region 6
      • Contact List
      • Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBAs)
      • Targeted Brownfields Assessment Brochure
      • Targeted Brownfields Assessment Form and Consent for Access to Property
    • Region 7
      • Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBAs)
      • FY 2025 ARC Grant Guidelines in Region 7
    • Region 8
      • Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBAs)
      • The Western Brownfields Wire (WBWire)
    • Region 9
      • Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBAs)
      • Vacant to Vibrant, Land Renewal
    • Region 10
      • Contact List
      • Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBAs)
  • Supporting Communities
    • Understanding Brownfields
    • Environmental Contamination at Brownfield Sites
    • Public Health
    • Relevant Federal Programs
    • Small and Rural Communities
    • Nonprofit Involvement in Brownfields Reuse
    • Tribal Nations
    • Land Banks and Brownfields
    • Urban Agriculture
      • Frequent Questions about Brownfields and Urban Agriculture
      • Resources about Brownfields and Urban Agriculture
      • Steps to Creating a Community Garden or Expand Urban Agriculture at a Brownfields Site
    • Taking Photos, Audio & Video for Your Brownfields Projects
  • Success Stories
  • Grant Recipient Reporting
    • Key Terms
    • ACRES Frequently Asked Questions
    • ACRES Training, Tips and Tools
      • Online ACRES Training Schedule for Brownfields Grantees
Contact Us about Brownfields
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on May 13, 2025
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.