Bolivar, TN | May 26, 2022 Mayor Julian McTizic announced today that the City of Bolivar had been awarded a Community-Wide Assessment Grant in the amount of $500K from the Biden Administration through the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The grant projects, commonly referred to as Brownfield projects, can range from cleaning up buildings with asbestos or lead contamination, to assessing and cleaning up abandoned properties that once contained or managed hazardous chemicals. Once assessed and cleaned up, these properties can be redeveloped with productive uses such as grocery stores, affordable housing, health centers, museums, and parks.
The purpose of this grant is to conduct community-wide environmental assessments of sites in and around Bolivar. The former Armira Corporation land, known as the tannery building, will be the first site in Bolivar to be assessed. Future development of the area will depend largely upon the results of these assessments, which will include water and soil samples.
Mayor McTizic praised several agencies including the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the US Environmental Protection Agency for assisting the City of Bolivar in obtaining the grant. Mayor McTizic said, “Without the assistance, support, and cooperation from these agencies, we could have never undertaken such an extensive project.” Mayor McTizic also praised the efforts of the city’s grant administrator, Mrs. Cathy Mayfield for her tireless efforts in pursuit of this funding.
“I am excited to see this project come to fruition,” said Mrs. Mayfield, “we have submitted the project for consideration on two other occasions. I am proud to be a part of such a worthwhile project that will benefit our entire community.”
Mayor McTizic was appointed last year to serve on the EPA’s Local Government Advisory Committee and currently vice-chairs the EPA’s Small Community Advisory Board.