Arkansas' Pulaski County among 44 communities to receive EPA funding

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Wednesday that Arkansas’ Pulaski County will received $350,000 in supplemental funding for the clean up of the Full Counsel and Sterling building sites.

“Just last week, I was in Little Rock for the unveiling of a revived Main Street as a creative corridor where brownfields played a part in over $100 million in investments by private development,” EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry said. “These additional funds will help return other areas across Little Rock to valuable community assets.”

The supplemental funding comes as part of the EPA’s Revolving Loan Funding program, which is helping cleanup and redevelopment efforts in 44 communities. Thirty of those communities will also receive extra funding, allowing them to further protect public and environmental health and create more jobs.

“The partnership between Pulaski County and EPA has resulted in 419,000 square feet of remediated area, created 200 jobs, and added $38 million to the economy,” Pulaski County Community Services Director Fredrick Love said. “This partnership also resulted in the honoring of an investment in the social capital of our community with the 2014 Phoenix Award for the Our House Children Center, demonstrating how you can strengthen the social fabric of a community while impacting the local economy and protecting the environment.”