Berkeley County Seeks EPA Grant To Revitalize Old St. Stephen High School

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – Berkeley County is pursuing an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Cleanup Grant for the former St. Stephen High School property that closed to the public in 1996 and is located at 1266 Russellville Road in St. Stephen.

The County plans to submit an EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant Application in November 2024 to apply for funding to remove hazardous materials and/or petroleum products identified at the property. Prior to submitting the grant, the county is encouraging community members to review and comment on the draft application which includes draft Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) on T uesday October 29, 2024. Additionally, an electronic copy of the draft cleanup application and the ABCA will be available online at https://berkeleymeansbusiness.com/brownfield/ beginning October 15, 2024, for public review and comment.

This initiative is part of a larger Brownfield Grant Program the County commenced in 2022 when County Council approved a $500,000 EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant to fund a large-scale revitalization initiative in the St. Stephen area. Part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfield Community Wide Assessment Grant Program, the EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant is helping fund environmental assessments on certain properties throughout St. Stephen—including the former St. Stephen High School property.

“We are eager to see our revitalization efforts in the St. Stephen area continue to advance and know this EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant will be another critical step in our vision to grow vital opportunities and improve quality of life for all who live and work there. Through solid and supportive partnerships with Terracon, the Asiko Group, and Town of St. Stephen, we have a team of skilled and like-minded individuals passionately working toward the preservation of St. Stephen’s unique landmarks and community members’ enduring success.” -Corey McClary, Berkeley County Workforce Development Manager

The EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant identified the former high school as a potential site for redevelopment in the area with a goal to provide more job opportunities and other quality of life resources for the community.

Over the last two years, community engagement has been a critical part of the EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant, including the establishment of the Brownfield Steering Committee, an 11-member team of local residents. This group directs the County in the assessment of properties and establishing goals and outcomes of the grant process.

SEE ALSO:

• Nearly Century-Old St. Stephen School To Be Torn Down

A community meeting on the new EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant is set for Tuesday, October 29 at 6 p.m. at St. Stephen Elementary School, located at 1053 Russellville Road, St. Stephen. The meeting will be a time for the public to review and comment on the draft grant application and ABCA in person and provide public comment.

Should you need assistance accessing the grant or if you are unable to attend the public meeting or wish to submit public comments, please contact Corey McClary, Workforce Development Manager for Berkeley County Economic Development, at corey.mcclary@berkeleycountysc.gov or 843-719-4096.

For more information on the Brownfield Grant Program, visit berkeleymeansbusiness.com/brownfield .

The post Berkeley County Seeks EPA Grant To Revitalize Old St. Stephen High School first appeared on The Berkeley Observer .