Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana,
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. Additionally, funding support is provided to
state and tribal response programs through a separate
mechanism.
CLEANUP GRANT
$85,955 for hazardous substances
EPA has selected the
Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana for a
brownfields cleanup grant. Grant funds will be used for
community outreach activities, cleanup planning, and cleanup
activities at the former Sproull Property at Kings Highway and
Mansfield Road in Shreveport. The cleanup will involve
abatement of asbestos-contaminated materials and vacant
structures on the property.
COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION
The Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana
was selected to receive a brownfields cleanup grant. The
foundation is in the process of creating a science park for
technology-based business in the City of Shreveport
(population 200,145). The census tracts in the target area of
downtown Shreveport have minority populations of between 77
and 88 percent, poverty rates of 41 to 47 percent, and average
per capita incomes of approximately $10,400. The target site
is in a severely disadvantaged area, surrounded by ten
neighborhoods that are eligible for community development
block grants. Cleanup of the site will help prevent releases
of contaminants, thereby eliminating potential risk to the
community. Redevelopment of the property will help complete
the core of the science park's Tech Center. A new
manufacturing and drug discovery firm, currently located
opposite the Sproull property, intends to expand operations to
the site, with plans to build an 85,000-square-foot facility
and employ 200 people. This science park redevelopment is part
of a 25-year plan that, when completed, will provide
employment for 6,000 people and generate millions in tax
revenues. The foundation estimates that approximately 40
percent of the jobs created will require only a high school
degree, making them available to the target 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: Biomedical Research Foundation of
Northwest Louisiana
318-675-4105
The cooperative agreement for this grant has not yet been
negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet
are subject to change. |
