In a move to revitalize underused land with potential contamination issues, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has awarded Coffee County a $20,000 grant from the Brownfield Redevelopment Area Grants (BRAG) program. This financial injection is aimed at helping the county to pinpoint key sites that are ripe for redevelopment efforts, contributing to both environmental rejuvenation and economic progress.
The grant, part of a larger initiative that saw 36 brownfield redevelopment grants announced in July, is backed by the Rural Brownfield Redevelopment Investment Act. The Act carves out provisions that go beyond mere environmental protection; it also seeks to generate economic opportunities, particularly in rural communities. According to a statement by TDEC, local governments and development boards are the linchpins in this plan, equipped with the essential resources for the comprehensive process that includes investigation, clean-up, and the eventual rejuvenation of blighted properties.
A brownfield, by definition, is a property that’s either unused or not fully utilized, often because of the likelihood of contamination. The $20,000 grant should empower Coffee County in the task of transforming these spaces into hubs of community and commerce, effectively turning what was once a problem into a profound possibility.
