Lenoir County granted $1 million by the EPA

KINSTON, N.C. (WNCT) — Lenoir County had been granted $1 million by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of their Brownfields Coalition Assessment grant program.

Wayne and Greene Counties are also included in the grant. The program is meant to help dissolve barriers between counties and redevelopment/development and to help reduce costs of environmental assessments.

“There will be many sites that we initially target for Phase I assessment,” said Lenoir County Assistant County Manager Adam Short. “These can cost from $10,000 to $30,000, depending on the scope of the assessment. That’s now money we don’t have to use out of our coffers and, similarly, money and time a private developer may save by using grant funds in place of private dollars; we can use this grant money to remove that barrier to development.”

The funds could potentially be used to help fund these environmental assessments or to assist private developers assess their properties for potential contamination. Evaluating future uses of properties, supporting planning projects and helping expand into new areas for industrial development.

The Lenoir County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Linda Rouse-Sutton is excited to put these funds to good use.

“We are excited to lead our coalition through this process,” said Rouse-Sutton. “Supporting economic development is a core focus of the Board’s strategic plan, and the Brownfields program helps to further our goal to grow and support our local economy.”

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