Brownfields 2008 Grant Fact Sheet

Southern University at Shreveport, 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. The brownfields job training grants provide residents of communities impacted by brownfields with the skills and training needed to effectively gain employment in assessment and cleanup activities associated with brownfield redevelopment and environmental remediation. Additionally, funding support is provided to state and tribal response programs through a separate mechanism.

JOB TRAINING GRANT

$199,999

EPA has selected Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA) for a job training grant. SUSLA plans to train 37 students, place 31 graduates in environmental jobs, and track them for one year. The training program will consist of three, 121-hour training cycles comprising technical instruction in HAZWOPER, OSHA safety, asbestos abatement supervisor, CPR, and first aid. Students will be recruited from low- to-moderate-income populations living in areas impacted by brownfields. SUSLA’s Intake Assistance and Supportive Services Center will provide support services for students, including career counseling, job placement assistance, and job readiness and life skills training. Three area employers—Abatement Services, Inc., ALTEC Environmental, and SRP Environmental—have expressed interest in partnering with SUSLA and hiring trained graduates.

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA) was selected to receive a job training grant. Located in Caddo Parish in northwest Louisiana, Shreveport is the third largest city in the state with a population of 200,199. Approximately 58 percent of the city’s residents are minorities. The percentages of families and individuals living below the poverty level in Shreveport are 19.6 percent and 23.9 percent, respectively, and the unemployment rate across Caddo Parish is over 11 percent. These rates are much higher, however, near the brownfields-impacted areas targeted by this grant. SUSLA plans to help address environmental justice issues faced by low-income, minority, and socio-economically disadvantaged residents. Since Hurricane Katrina, Shreveport has become a major city for film production. According to the city, there is a strong need for skilled environmental technicians with the certifications necessary to address contamination in older buildings in the downtown area that potentially will be used by the film industry.

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.

Camisha Scott, EPA Region 6
214-665-6755
EPA Region 6 Brownfields web site

Grant Recipient: Southern University at Shreveport, LA
318-678-4674

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