Memphis Bioworks Foundation has received a $292,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to train low-ie residents to clean up polluted places in their neighborhoods.

The two-year Wolf River Brownfields Job Training Program will enroll about 120 people in North Memphis in various environmental training programs. The funds will expand a larger brownfields project started by Shelby County with a $400,000 EPA grant in 2010.

“These job training grants are not just helping to create good jobs, they’re helping create good, green jobs that protect the health of local families and residents and preparemunities for continued economic growth,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.

“Creating good green jobs proves that we don’t have to choose between cleaning up our air and our water or creating jobs in ourmunities. We’re showing that it’s possible to do both at the same time.”

The Bioworks project will focus on the 38108, 38107 and 38103 zip codes where the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation says there are 350 brownfields, or properties with the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.

North Memphians will be trained in four areas: 40-hour hazardous waste operations and emergency response; underground storage tank leak prevention awareness, solid waste management/cleanup and innovative and alternative treatment technologies.

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