EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders 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.
$198,500
EPA has selected the City of Bridgeport for a job training grant. The city plans to train 50 community residents in both hazardous materials and lead abatement through an intensive training program requiring approximately 80 hours of instruction. Courses will include hazardous waste operation and emergency response training and lead abatement worker certification. One of the five training cycles will be given in Spanish. The city plans to place 35 graduates in environmental jobs. The Bridgeport Department of Social Services will hire a full-time job training developer who will coordinate, recruit, screen, assess, refer, and track trainees throughout the course of the project. Students will be recruited from eligible residents through the Food Stamp Employment Training program.