Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Mid America Brick as well as Structural Clay Products, LLC of Mexico, Missouri has been approved for over $1.3 million in remediation tax credits from the Department of Economic Development (DED) Brownfield Redevelopment Program to redevelop the former A.P. Green Refractories site. The money will go toward re-opening the plant for recommissioning as well as repurposing of face brick for commercial as well as residential construction markets. This will help create jobs for more than 100 workers in the community.

The former A.P. Green site served as a brick refractory plant 94 years before it close down in 2002. It has been abandoned since then. While the plant has lead paint as well as soil contamination to worry about, the main contaminant that has to be dealt with is asbestos. Asbestos is a toxic mineral that is known to cause several forms of cancer, including mesothelioma, even at abridged levels of exposure. The tax credits will be used to cover the costs of remediation, demolition, as well as for jobs as well as investment.

Once the funding is in order as well as Mid America takes ownership of the site, the president of the company hopes that the factory will be capable to begin production within 12 to 15 months. Mid America has as well as qualified for an Action Fund Loan of $1 million from the Community Development Block Grant program, which will help pay for equipment as well as machinery. With over 256,000 workers unemployed in the state of Missouri, local officials are excited about the reopening of this plant.

For the filled story, go to Mexico Ledger.