Money Included in the FY 2007 Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act

Washington, DC - The U.S. House of Representatives today approved $300,000 in funding for the Augusta Brownfield Commission.  The funding, requested by 12th District Georgia Congressman John Barrow, will help the commission's redevelopment efforts for the newly cleaned Hyde Park section of Augusta. 

"Cleaning up polluted parts of Augusta is more than just a pubic health priority," Barrow said.  "It's also an important step in helping bring new jobs and opportunities to Augusta - especially to some of the city's economically depressed areas." 

"The City and the Brownfield Commission have identified about 65 sites in Augusta where pollution and contamination have prevented new economic development," Barrow added.  "It's time to clear these roadblocks and clean up the mess.  If we're going to move ahead and being new jobs to Augusta, we need to work together to clean up these sites so we can get the surrounding neighborhoods back on their feet."  

The ultimate goal of the Augusta Brownfield Commission is to spur economic development and create new jobs in contaminated and economically depressed areas of Augusta-Richmond County.  Since 1999, the Commission has worked to address contaminated sites across Augusta.

Commission activities have been successful in helping revitalize Augusta's Hyde Park section, an area that used to be a contaminated and dangerous eyesore that plagued the community for decades.  The Commission has now successfully assessed and cleaned up contaminated sites in the area, and is currently evaluating redevelopment proposals. 

The FY ‘07 Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act is now being considered in the Senate.  After the House and Senate both agree on a Conference Report, the bill will go to the President for his approval.

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Contact: Harper Lawson, (202) 225-2823

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