093 GRANT HELPS MTSU ETIS DEPARTMENT ELIMINATE LEAD POISONING HAZARDS IN TENNESSEE HOMES

Date: Sept. 29, 2006


News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
TNLEAP contacts: Drs. Kathy Mathis, 898-2113, and Carol Boraiko, 898-2776

(MURFREESBORO) — The MTSU Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Studies is one of three recipients nationwide for a 2006 U.S. Housing and Urban Development Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control grant award for nearly $2 million to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in residential housing that have the potential to poison children less than 6 years old, the Tennessee Lead Elimination Action Program office recently said.
Children have the greatest risk for developmental and behavioral problems and potentially mental retardation stemming from lead poisoning, officials with the program, which goes by the acronym TNLEAP, said.
A formal signing of the agreement will be held soon, said Dr. Walter Boles, ETIS chairman.
Alumnus and U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon worked to secure the $1,999,826 grant.
MTSU is focused on service-learning initiatives in response to identified community need in its effort to strengthen MTSU-community bonds and create student research and service opportunities with partnering agencies, TNLEAP officials said.
The grant will benefit our community as a key coordinator in the statewide implementation of the comprehensive Lead Elimination Action Plan to help Tennessee housing become “Lead Safe,” officials said.
Drs. Kathy Mathis and Carol Boraiko are the sponsoring faculty for this second round of grant funding for the department. The first round of TN LEAP grant funded activity finished successfully in March of this year, they said.
MTSU and a consortium of partners including the Tennessee Department of Health, regional health departments, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Human Resource Agencies, the Nashville Housing Fund, LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center in Memphis, Chattanooga State Community College, City of Knoxville, Tennessee Center for Child Welfare, MTSU Project HELP, Catholic Charities of Tennessee and Henley Supply Millwork in Decherd are
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