Main Street USA, Inc., Baton Rouge, LA 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 $178,000 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected Main Street USA, Inc., for a brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds will be used to remove and dispose of containers of petroleum/solvents and paints; and to conduct asbestos, lead-based paint, and mold abatement at the 1201 Main Street Property, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which once was the site of an automotive service facility. Funds also will be used for community outreach activities. COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION Main Street USA, Inc., was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. Main Street USA, Inc., is dedicated to the redevelopment of properties in depressed urban and semi-urban areas of Baton Rouge (population 227,818). The target area of Baton Rouge Mid-City was historically a suburban hub that was separated from the downtown area by the construction of a major interstate in the 1960s. As a result of this isolation and urban sprawl, conditions in the target area have deteriorated. Nearly 40 percent of Mid-City residents live below the poverty level and 84 percent are minority. A previous Phase I assessment of the Main Street property, the former location of a car dealership, auto parts, and service warehouse, revealed multiple hazardous contaminants. Private sources have pledged funding to restore this historic building into a show piece. However, the pledge is contingent upon the elimination of environmental concerns. The site will be converted into mixed-use commercial space. An engineering firm has already committed to occupying one floor of the building. Redevelopment of this property is expected to jump start revitalization of the area and return jobs and pride to the community. 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
214-665-6736
http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6sf/bfpages/sfbfhome.htm Grant Recipient: Main Street USA, Inc., LA
225-768-9027 The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. |
