EPA announces $2.5 million in brownfields selection grants for Centralina Regional Council and City of Kannapolis as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in[...]

EPA announces $2.5 million in brownfields selection grants for Centralina Regional Council and City of Kannapolis as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America Agenda

October 16, 2024

EPA has selected the Centralina Council of Governments to lead a Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant of $1.5 million, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grant funds will be used to conduct 30 Phase I and 16 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop 10 cleanup plans and two area-wide plans, and support community engagement activities. Assessment activities will focus on textile mill villages in the Town of Spencer and the Cities of Mount Holly and Albemarle. Priority sites include the 8-acre Dawson Drying and Finishing Facility, the 178-acre North Carolina Finishing Company, the 4-acre Adrian Mill, and the 7-acre Madora Mill.

EPA has selected the City of Kannapolis for a Brownfields Multipurpose Grant of $1 million that will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grant funds will be used to conduct 12 Phase I and eight Phase II environmental site assessments, and conduct cleanup and community engagement planning activities. Grant funds also will be used to clean up the Former Pillowtex Wastewater Treatment Plant located at 417 Glenn Avenue and the Wyrick Property/Villa Mobile Home Park located at 612 Venice Street.

"EPA's Brownfields Program empowers states, communities, and other stakeholders to work together to assess, safely clean up, and reuse brownfield sites," said Jeaneanne Gettle, Acting EPA Region 4 Administrator. "We are excited to announce these grant selections for the Centralina and Kannapolis communities to provide funding for these important brownfields projects."

"Every North Carolinian deserves clean air and water," said Rep. Jeff Jackson, 14^th District of North Carolina. "This grant will help our region continue to clean up contaminated areas so we can ensure safe use and investment in our communities. I'm grateful for the EPA's support of these projects right here in the 14th congressional district."

"Centralinais thrilled to launch our Regional Brownfields Program to support environmental stewardship and community economic development across our region," said Geraldine Gardner, Executive Director of the CentralinaRegional Council. "We especially excited to partner with the municipalities of Mt. Holly, Spencer and Albemarle to support the clean-up and transformation of brownfield sites into assets for their communities."

"We are pleased to be a recipient of these funds. There are tremendous public benefits that are created when different levelsof government work together on projects such as these," said Mike Legg, City Manager - City of Kannapolis. "Once these sites are assessed and cleaned upthey can be used for many purposes including construction of a greenway, community park or redevelopment in a way that improves the City's job and tax base. We express our gratitude to the EPA and to our Congressional delegation for assisting us with the allocation of these funds."

Visit EPA's Brownfields web pagefor more general information on brownfield assessments, remediation, and redevelopment.

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