Trump EPA and U.S. Rep. Clay Fuller Highlight Significant Brownfield Investments in North Georgia 

CHICKAMAUGA, Georgia (September 18, 2026) – On September 18, 2026, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 Administrator Kevin McOmber and U.S. Representative Clay Fuller (GA-14) joined state and local officials at the Chickamauga Civic Center to highlight $6 million in Brownfields funding.  

This investment includes $4 million to City of Chickamauga to clean up the former Crystal Springs Print Works site, $1.5 million to Northwest Georgia Regional Commission to assess properties for potential redevelopment, and $500,000 to Rome-Floyd County Development Authority to expand the inventory of brownfield sites and assess prospective properties.   

“Brownfields work is about more than cleanup. It is about restoring confidence in a property, supporting local economic development, creating jobs, and improving quality of life,” said EPA Regional Administrator Kevin McOmber. “These grants will help Northwest Georgia turn challenged properties into community assets.” 

“Since taking office, I've worked closely with municipalities across Georgia's 14th District to support efforts to revitalize our communities and promote economic growth,” said U.S. Representative (GA-14) Clay Fuller. “I am thrilled to join EPA and our local leaders in announcing $6 million in federal brownfields funding that will help clean up contaminated properties, prepare for redevelopment, and return them to productive use for the communities they serve. I will fight to bring federal cleanup, infrastructure funding home each and every day.” 

“The most successful brownfield redevelopments can best be accomplished through partnerships and pooling resources together at the federal, state, and local levels,” said Jeff Cown, Georgia Environmental Protection Division Director. “The redevelopment of a single brownfield can be a catalyst, and the engine needed to spur economic growth.”  

“We appreciate EPA’s continued partnership and investment in Rome and Floyd County,” said Evie McNiece, Rome County Development Authority board member. “This support is helping us not only address challenges of the past but also create new opportunities for the future.”  

Background: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $13.5 million in Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup (MAC) grants to accelerate the cleanup of polluted sites across Georgia. With these funds, EPA is investing directly in American communities to clean up and redevelop blighted properties, delivering on the Trump Administration’s commitment to ensure that clean air, land, and water go hand-in-hand with economic growth and opportunity.    

EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided over $3 billion in grant funding to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse.   

To date, Brownfields investments leveraged more than $45 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding was able to leverage, from both public and private sources, more than 228,900 jobs. Through fiscal year 2025, on average, $19.47 was leveraged for each EPA Brownfields Grant dollar awarded through multipurpose, assessment, revolving loan fund and cleanup cooperative agreements.     

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