The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that "more than $315 million from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda [has been awarded] to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites across the country while advancing environmental justice," (EPA Press).

The CRA is 1 of 267 groups receiving funds nationally. Leading a coalition of Memphis organizations, the CRA will be utilizing the grant in Klondike, Uptown, Soulsville, Binghampton, and possibly other neighborhoods to assess sites with potential environmental contamination and prepare them for cleanup. The EPA defines a brownfield as a property, where the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

Andy Kizzee, Business Hub Director at Binghampton Development Corporation stated, "BDC is excited to work with the CRA and coalition partners to assess several key, contaminated or potentially contaminated sites in Binghampton. This grant will help prepare sites for clean-up work and redevelopment, ultimately transforming these underutilized properties into assets for the community.”

EDGE was also awarded $1 million to set up a revolving loan fund to clean up environmentally contaminated sites. These two tools combined will make a huge difference in remediating blighted conditions in our communities.

"We are beyond excited at the success of the Brownfields Coalition and we are grateful to our partners at TDEC, EDGE and CRA for their leadership and support," said Roshun Austin, President and CEO of The Works, Inc. "Memphis is a leader in collaborative problem solving, and these funds will be the catalyst needed for thoughtful redevelopment in neglected neighborhoods helping to provide environmental justice for the most marginalized Black and Brown residents.”