DALLAS, Texas — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department to receive $500,000 in Brownfields Job Training Grant funding.
The grant will aid in recruiting, training, and placing workers for community revitalization and cleanup projects at Brownfield sites, according to a press release from the EPA. The Brownfields Program is designed to support local economies by assessing and cleaning up contaminated sites, returning blighted properties to productive use.
“These grants reflect our dedication to improving quality of life for American families by achieving both the environmental stewardship and economic vitality that help power the Great American Comeback,” said John W. Busterud, EPA Assistant Administrator for Land and Emergency Management.
The City of Austin plans to train 38 students and place 32 in environmental jobs, with a focus on individuals from Austin’s Eastern Crescent area. The program includes 296 hours of instructional training, and students will earn up to six federal certifications upon completion. Certifications offered include lead and asbestos abatement, hazardous waste operations, emergency response, mold remediation, and environmental sampling and analysis.
“With funding from EPA’s Brownfields program, Austin’s job training program shows how we can power the economy and job growth by cleaning up contaminated sites,” said Scott Mason, Regional Administrator.
The EPA’s Brownfields Program, initiated in 1995, has provided nearly $2.9 billion in grants, leveraging over $42 billion for cleanup and redevelopment, and creating more than 220,500 jobs. Since 1998, 456 grants totaling over $119 million have been awarded through Brownfield Job Training Programs, with more than 23,400 individuals completing training and over 17,400 placed in related careers.
For more information on Brownfields Job Training Grant recipients, visit the EPA’s Grant Factsheet Tool.