Bessemer City Lands $500K Grant for Environmental Assessments

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Bessemer City, North Carolina has been awarded a $500,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant to evaluate environmental concerns at commercial properties within the city. While the initial focus is on assessing potential brownfield sites, city leaders believe the assessments could have long-term benefits by reducing risk for developers and ultimately boosting the local economy.

Why it matters

Brownfield sites, which are properties with known or suspected environmental contamination, can deter investment and development. By proactively identifying and addressing these issues, Bessemer City hopes to make the city more attractive for new businesses and economic growth.

The details

The $500,000 EPA grant will allow Bessemer City to conduct environmental assessments on commercial properties to identify any potential contamination or other environmental concerns. This information can then be used to develop cleanup plans and make the sites more attractive for redevelopment.

• In 2024, Bessemer City was approved for the $500,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant.

What’s next

The city plans to use the grant funds to conduct environmental assessments on commercial properties in the coming year, with the goal of identifying and addressing any brownfield issues to spur economic development.