Grants

The City of Anderson will pursue all avenues of funding including Federal, State, and EPA.

Other Funds Leveraged

There was no 2004 CDBG funding allocated, nor expensed on this activity, yet it was part of an overall project assessment. Plans were then incorporated into the 2005 Annual Action plan to further establish goals and implement programs. Therefore, 2005 CDBG supported numerous initiatives in the brownfields arena and total 2005 funds expensed were $43,485. Additional funds were leveraged by the Brownfields Advisory Team applying for 6 state grants and 1 federal E.P.A. grant within 2005. Other fund leveraging came from local funding sources.

There were 3 specific projects that were underway within 2005: Prime Battery, Luck Property, and Cline Lumber. Prime Battery was a 62,000 sq ft former battery manufacturing facility, abandoned, structural declared unsafe, and with back property taxes. Upon declaration from the Anderson Board of Public Safety for being structurally unsafe, immediate coordination occurred with the state environmental regulatory agency to conduct the necessary assessments, remediation, and demolition of this structure was initiated in December 2005. This structure was a clear obstacle inhibiting the stability of the surrounding neighborhood; formally defined as census area 3.1, which is 77.2% concentration of low-moderate income, 23% minority, 72% renter-occupied, with an average median income of $18,586.

The second major brownfield project for 2005 was the preliminary environmental testing and demolition of 2316 Locust Street, a structure that stood vacant & dilapidated for over 15 years. Through a cooperative agreement with the current owner, state assessment grant funds were leveraged for this project and CDBG funds leveraged for demolition, which occurred September 2005. This structure as part of the unsafe buildings and brownfields initiative was within census area 5.1 that has a 77.9% concentration of low-income.

The third major brownfield project for 2005 was the F.C. Cline Lumber property, which was a former lumber mill in operation since the early 1900’s. State grant assessment funds were leveraged for all the environmental testing and remediation efforts, while CDBG funds were leveraged for demolition that occured in the spring, 2006. This property is immediately located across from two senior housing/assisted living developments and removal of this structure will greatly improve the quality of life for the surrounding area. This property was obtained by the city in November 2005 for back taxes and presents some redevelopment opportunities for future green space enhancement. This area is within census area 3.1, containing a 77.2% concentration of low-income.

These projects could not have been possible without multiple leveraging of funds and will greatly make a positive impact in the surrounding residential neighborhoods.