The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) announced in late May that U.S. EPA has awarded a record nine Brownfields grants to entities in the state. The amount awarded totals more than $2.89 million.
“The State of Mississippi received more grants this year than any other state in EPA’s Region 4. In addition, these nine grants total more than the state has ever received in any other year. These grants will improve the environment as well as help boost the economy of these areas as they assess and plan projects in their areas,” said Gary Rikard, MDEQ Executive Director. “Our success this year is a result of the hard work of our community leaders, their grant writing staffs, and the staff of MDEQ’s Brownfield Program.”
MDEQ staff have worked with local governments and the Mississippi Municipal League to offer technical assistance and Brownfield grant writing workshops to communities seeking the EPA funds. In EPA Region 4, 111 applications were received for funding, with 40 ultimately receiving some level of funding. Mississippi entities submitted 10 applications, with 9 entities receiving funding.
