Pioneer School District is looking into a "brownfields" cleanup grant to help reclaim an abandoned industrial site adjacent to Arcade Elementary School.
Superintendent Ben Halsey told the Pioneer Board of Education at its Nov. 2 regular meeting that he has agreed to sit on a committee being formed by the Wyoming County Industrial Development Agency related to remediating the former Emkay Plant at Church and North streets. Other governmental entities such as the Village of Arcade are also involved.
The goal of the committee is to prepare an application to seek a "brownfields" grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to tear down the existing facility, clean up any waste, and make it available for redevelopment. Clear Creek separates the site from Arcade Elementary.
"The district doesn't have to do anything other than have a representative sit on the committee," Mr. Halsey said.
Mr. Halsey has offered to help write the grant along with James Pierce, director of Wyoming County Industrial Development Agency. The grant will be written this fall, with the results available sometime during the winter.
"It is exciting to finally see some potential movement on that site," Mr. Halsey said. "Who knows? Maybe two years from now we could be talking about a new project to enhance the area."