Warren County has been awarded an EPA grant of $500,000 to conduct a community-wide assessment of properties that may contain hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants, adversely affecting their future use or development.
The county is one 13 entities from across the state for funds from the EPA’s Brownfields Assessment Program, according to information from the office from County Manager Vincent Jones.
The money will be given over a three-year period beginning Oct. 1, 2022 and does not require a local match, according to a press statement.
A brownfield is defined by the EPA as a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.
“This grant from the EPA is tremendous for Warren County. It falls right in line with the discussion the board of commissioners had earlier this year related to the work needed so that our potential sites for development or redevelopment are ready when opportunities arise,” Jones said in the statement.
“These funds will now allow us to move forward with identifying and conducting assessments on sites throughout the County, so we will be ready when development opportunities are presented,” he said.
Included in the project budget is funding for community meetings to engage citizens on possible brownfields identification as well.
“We can assess approximately 20 sites throughout the county,” said Charla Duncan, director of community & economic development for Warren County. “We will also be able to build out an inventory of sites for possible future funding, and work on a brownfields redevelopment plan, but also we can better understand concerns involving our land and community,” Duncan said.
For more information, contact Duncan at Warren County Community & Economic Development at 252.257.3115.