Rison is tapping Kansas State University’s Technical Assistance to Brownfields program for help with two Main Street properties listed in the state’s brownfield database, Mayor Charles Roberts told the City Council on Oct. 6.
Deltaplex News covered the council discussion Thursday. The TAB program works with the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality to give communities free help on assessments, cleanup options and grant applications.
Properties on Main Street
- Former Cash AG Store: 209 Main Street, ADEQ facility 13-00278, listed as active.
- Main Street Mini Storage: 208 Main Street, ADEQ facility 13-00279, listed as active.
- Assessments: Officials say environmental assessments have been done and concerns were flagged at the former grocery store. Cleanup cost and the exact contaminants have not been independently confirmed in public reporting.
What TAB can do
Brownfields are sites where reuse is complicated by known or suspected contamination. K-State’s TAB team can help Rison evaluate redevelopment options, understand assessment rules and pursue funding. A campus visit planned for Oct. 29 was postponed; no new date is set.
Downtown Rison sits along U.S. 79 between Pine Bluff and Fordyce. Council members framed the work as a path to fill empty storefronts and bring businesses back to Main Street.
Photo: Valis55, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (historic Texaco station, Rison).
