Two Arkansas entities received $1.2 million in grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its Brownfields program to clean up or assess sites that are difficult to develop because of contamination or the possibility of contamination, the EPA announced Friday.
The grants to Pulaski County and the West Arkansas Planning and Development District are part of $55.2 million awarded nationwide by the EPA. More than 200 projects in 131 communities received awards of $200,000 to $820,000.
Pulaski County received $820,000 to continue its Brownfields program, which provides loans and subgrants for commercial properties.
Josh Fout, the county's Brownfields administrator, said the county will open an application process for potential projects.
"As of right now, we don't have any confirmed projects," he said.
The county has received more than $3 million from the EPA since 2005 for its program, which has provided funds for cleaning up sites along Little Rock's Main Street before they could be revitalized, clearing out asbestos in a garage so it could be torn down for the Our House children's center, clearing out asbestos at the Sterling building on Capitol Avenue, and other projects.
Frederick Love, director of the county's community services department that oversees the Brownfields program, said he was pleased to learn of the award, noting the significance of the Brownfields grants in the recently revamped Main Street and its Creative Corridor.
"There's a lot of potential," he said.
The West Arkansas Planning and Development District, which received its first grant in its fourth time applying, got $400,000 for the assessment of potential contamination at properties in Fort Smith, Booneville, Ozark and Mulberry.
Tracee McKenna, the district's community development director, said the district will discuss possible assessments with property owners in those four cities to gauge interest before selecting any projects.
She said the district might be able to assess five to 10 properties, depending on the properties and the type of assessment that needs to be done.
Assessment determines whether contamination exists and if so, what kind. Assessments are useful for certain properties that have the potential to be contaminated, such as abandoned gas stations, dry cleaners or factories, McKenna said. Determining whether contamination exists and then abating it can allow a property to be developed again.
The funds would be especially useful for smaller communities, McKenna said.
"There's just no way they could support this project on their own," she said.
Metro on 05/21/2016