Hernando city officials have set a Feb. 22 date for a community meeting to offer information about the city’s Brownfields program. It will be held from 5-6 p.m. in the board room at Hernando City Hall.
The City of Hernando has been awarded a $409,000 assessment grant from the Environmental Protection Agency for the Brownfields program. The program is aimed at helping redevelop abandoned, idle or under-utilitized properties where environmental conditions are hindering its redevelopment. Funds can be used to pay for environmental assessments and cleanup planning to help move those properties to redevelopment.
City officials retained PPM Consultants, Inc. of Ridgeland to facilitate the grant program in Hernando and inform the commercial real estate community and potential buyers and sellers of commercial real estate.
Properties able to use the Brownfields program can be made more attractive and funds can cover the cost of environmental studies. Any commercial properties in the city limits of Hernando are eligible for funding.
The Brownfields Program is the federal government’s main program for cleaning up contaminated waste sites and protecting the environment from hazardous substances. The program provides technical help and some funding for assessment and cleanup.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the Brownfields Program in 1993 as a pilot program to help local governments clean up contaminated waste sites and protect the environment.
Individuals interested in learning more about the program, or to learn about grant funding eligibility may contact Hernando Community Development Director Gia Matheny at 662-429-9092, or Jere (Trey) Hess or Regan Wray with PPM Consultants, Inc. in Ridgeland.
