Guin, Alabama – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that C3 of Northwest Alabama, Inc. will receive a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant to conduct environmental assessments and develop cleanup plans on properties located in Fayette, Lamar, and Marion Counties.

These funds are available to both public and private owners to support assessment and redevelopment planning of brownfield sites. Brownfields are real estate properties for which the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence – or merely the potential presence – of hazardous substances, and/or petroleum products. In addition to former industrial properties, brownfields may include former gas stations, dry cleaners, or commercial buildings.

“I’m proud that C3 has received this grant,” said Congressman Robert Aderholt. “This money will no doubt have a direct economic impact. This will help business development to overcome some of the regulatory hurdles that can be cost prohibitive for rural areas. I’m proud to support this type of funding in Congress.”

Property owners and investors that are considering completing Phase I and/or Phase II environmental site assessments in preparation for a potential property acquisition and/or prior to beginning site improvements and/or building construction or renovations are encouraged to reach out to C3 of Northwest Alabama to determine if your project is eligible for assistance. This program may be able to pay the full costs of environmental studies.

“I am always grateful to see such funds come back to our district,“ said State Representative Tracy Estes. These funds can be used to assist in economic development moving forward in the hopes of bringing in new jobs to the area, which benefits our communities. These programs also help to raise the overall quality of life for the district.”

“This EPA grant will help our local communities to bring sites back into productive, commercial uses,” said State Representative Kyle South. “Local and regional leaders can use these funds to plan for public improvements that will enhance community health while partnering with businesses and property owners on redevelopment of sites that might otherwise get neglected.”

“This program is a valuable tool for revitalizing neighborhoods, supporting new projects, attracting investment, and fostering environmental stewardship,” said Tom Wisemiller, President & CEO of C3 of Northwest Alabama, Inc.

Use of the assessment funds does not obligate property owners to complete remediation projects if the environmental studies indicate presence of contaminants on a site. For some investors, this program can help them to avoid buying properties with additional complications, while other investors actively seek out brownfield remediation projects.

Mr. Wisemiller said, “The goal of this program is to incentive development and plan for ways to attract new investment, not to regulate sites or compel environmental cleanup projects.”

About EPA Brownfields Program
EPA’s Brownfields Program helps communities address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization. The program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar. For more information: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields.