U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded nearly $1.9 million in grants to agencies and organizations in Northeast Ohio that work with projects on pollution prevention, sustainable development and environmental protection.
The cities of Girard, Barberton and Warren were each awarded $200,000 for Brownfield assessment and development.
Case Western Reserve University received $499,804 for a "Children At Risk" research project, that will study children and infants' exposure to indoor molds, as part of a larger national risk assessment program.
The second phase of Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) was given $330,885 to continue providing timely, useful and accurate environmental and human health information in the community.
The grant will be shared by three local groups. Earth Day Coalition received $60,000 to start a public education effort on air pollution and its health effects, including creating a Web site, logo and youth program.
Kent State University was awarded $52,000 to complete an on-line system that will allow community planners to track future growth based on ecological impacts.
The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency will use a $118,885 grant to add tracking of air pollutants to its current real-time ozone Web site.
Each year, EPA awards grants nationwide to community organizations, academic institutions, and State, local and tribal governments.