US Government announces brownfield assessment and training grants

The Federal Government has awarded 56 Brownfields Assessment Pilot Grants totalling more than $12 million to help in the evaluation of the environmental contamination of brownfield sites.

State and local officials will use the grants to compile information that is then used to attract potential developers. In addition, this year’s assessment grants also include provisions for the evaluation, protection and preservation of green space – parks, playgrounds, trails, gardens, habitat restoration and open space – on revitalised brownfield sites.

The Government has also included $20 million in Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund pilots for 30 grantees supporting 54 communities. These grants enable communities to lend businesses funds to implement brownfield remediation programmes.

In addition, 16 communities will receive job training grants, of approximately $200,000 each, to set up environmental training programmes. Totalling $2.8 million, this funding provides for the creation of workforce development programmes to teach job skills in the field of environmental cleanup to people living in low income areas in the vicinity of brownfield sites.