Land-of-Sky Regional Council Awarded $400,000 EPA Brownfields Grant to Assist in Redevelopment of Potentially Contaminated Sites
Date Posted: 10/19/2006
For further info contact:
Ron Townley 828-251-6622, ron@landofsky.org
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The United States Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Land-of-Sky Regional Council (LOSRC) a $400,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant to expand economic development and technical services provided by the Regional Brownfields Initiative (RBI). The RBI will use the funding to directly assist prospective developers of Brownfields properties in Buncombe, Madison, Henderson, and Transylvania Counties. Brownfields are underutilized or abandoned properties that have actual or perceived contamination.
This EPA funding will be used to identify, characterize, and prioritize hazardous and petroleum-contaminated properties, perform environmental site assessments, develop cleanup plans (if needed) and conduct community involvement activities. The Land-of-Sky Regional Council anticipates this project will continue to foster the revitalization of properties throughout the Region
Cleanup and redevelopment of Brownfields sites will help the region preserve its natural resources, restore its historic and cultural assets and attract business and industry to the area, resulting in an increase in tourism revenues, jobs, and tax revenues.
The RBI is a partnership among Western North Carolina’s economic developers, local officials, bankers, environmental planners, realtors, and other stakeholders that assists the region’s Brownfield owners address potential contamination issues and create economic development opportunities in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania Counties.
The RBI has brought $2,450,000 to the region in Brownfields assistance grants. Assistance began in 2002 with funding from an EPA Brownfields Pilot Grant of $200,000, a $50,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and funds from AdvantageWest. The RBI has since received a $1,000,000 Revolving Loan fund that is available to fund site cleanup needs. An additional $400,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant was received in 2004. Also in 2004, the RBI assisted the Towns of Fletcher and Woodfin receive $200,000 each for cleanup activities on Brownfield sites they own.
The Regional Brownfields Initiative is now accepting applications for sites with real or perceived hazardous material and petroleum contamination to be adopted into the program. Applications are considered on a rolling basis for adoption into the program. Adopted sites are eligible for grant funding and technical assistance. Please contact Land-of-Sky Regional Council at 251-6622 for more information and ask to speak with a Brownfields Team member. Visit www.landofsky.org/planning/p_brownfields.html for a site application form.
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"As a life-long resident of western North Carolina I can’t imagine a more beautiful or diverse place to live and work."
D. Samuel Neill
Attorney-At-Law & AdvantageWest Board Member
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