(Kansas City, Kan., Sept. 3, 2008) – EPA will award $150,000 to Kansas State University for Brownfields training, research, and technical assistance. The funds will support Kansas State projects that provide information, training, tools, and technical assistance in support of Brownfields assessment, cleanup and revitalization.
Kansas State was one of 10 Brownfields stakeholders nationwide selected to receive these funds. Each assistance project will receive $100,000 – $150,000 annually for up to five years.
Three departments at Kansas State will collaborate to conduct research, training, and technical assistance with community gardening initiatives. The research will result in tools that enable lay persons to easily determine the suitability of Brownfields for gardening and farming. Initial work will begin with community gardening initiatives and affiliated networks in the metro areas of Chicago, Kansas City and Flagstaff, and rural communities in northeast Colorado. Developed materials will be shared through workshops, Web-based seminars, and Web pages.