The Environmental Protection Agency announced that the Center for Hazardous Substance Research at Kansas State University will receive a $23 million grant to expand its Technical Assistance to Brownfields, or TAB, program that works to revitalize environmentally distressed properties.These properties, known as ‘brownfields,” are often underutilized or blighted pieces of land that are not chosen for redevelopment for a variety of reasons, including potential or real environmental contamination.
The TAB program helps property owners, developers and community leaders create an economic or community development plan and find resources for addressing the environmental issues and implementing the reuses of those properties. In addition to local and state governments, TAB also provides support to all U.S. federally recognized tribes.The five-year grant will allow the program to expand and complete more projects within its 21-state regional and national footprint, including Kansas and other states from the Great Plains, Rocky Mountain and Great Lakes regions. K-State is also the national lead for collaborating with five other named TAB providers that serve the western and eastern regions of the United States.The program also works alongside 35 universities and contractors stationed throughout the region. TAB provides the use of web-based tools, outreach events, one-on-one assistance, and evaluations of community and economic goals over time.
