Brownfields Program Grants

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Background

The EPA Brownfields and Land Revitalization Program supports states, Tribal Nations, communities and other stakeholders in working together together to prevent, assess, safely clean up and sustainably reuse brownfield sites. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.  

The program offers competitive Assessment, Cleanup, Multipurpose, Revolving Loan Fund and Job Training Grants, as well as non-competitive funding for State and Tribal Response Programs.

  • Assessment Grants: These grants provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments and community outreach.
  • Cleanup Grants: These grants provide funding to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites owned by the applicant.
  • Multipurpose Grants: These grants provide funding to assist communities in addressing and revitalizing areas affected by one or more brownfield sites.
  • Revolving Loan Fund Grants: These grants provide funding for a grant recipient to capitalize a revolving loan fund and to provide loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites.
  • Job Training Grants: These grants provide environmental training for residents impacted by brownfield sites in their communities.  

Considering climate change impacts throughout the brownfield cleanup and redevelopment process can not only maintain the sustainability of the program’s investments, but also support local resilience efforts. Brownfields grant recipients can choose to consider how changing climate conditions may affect the long-term suitability of a site and alter the effectiveness of a cleanup remedy. Adaptation and/or mitigation strategies can then be adopted as appropriate. Additionally, grant recipients can incorporate environmental justice approaches into brownfield reuse plans to benefit overburdened or vulnerable communities.

Eligibility

Who is generally eligible to apply? 

A wide range of eligible entities can apply for these grants, including local government, quasi-governmental entities, redevelopment agencies, states, federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Regional Corporations, nonprofit organizations and certain limited liability corporations and partnerships with nonprofit affiliations. For-profit organizations, individual entities and nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible to receive Brownfields Grants. For general tips on preparing applications, eligibility information and guidance on procurement and health monitoring activities, visit the Brownfield Program's Grant Application Resources webpage. 

The activities performed under these funded projects are covered by the Justice40 Initiative. Visit Justice40 at EPA to for more details on eligibilities, applicant requirements and sub-award requirements. 

How can projects funded by this program incorporate adaptation and resilience considerations? 

Grant recipients can choose to pursue a variety of brownfields redevelopment activities that may improve local resilience while adapting to changing land use needs. In the assessment, cleanup, and reuse of contaminated properties, Brownfields Grants can support projects that employ multiple strategies to build resilience and address climate change impacts to brownfield sites, including resilient cleanup planning, climate-smart brownfields planning, equitable development activities and infrastructure evaluations.

Examples include:

  • Brownfield site assessments that consider future climate conditions to understand its potential to serve as a community garden that safely yields sustainable food production.  
  • Planning processes to prepare a brownfield site for green infrastructure activities (e.g., rooftop gardens and rainwater harvesting systems to adapt to changing climate conditions). 
  • Revitalization plans for a brownfield site in drought-prone areas that focus on capping contaminated areas and using drought-resistant landscaping to reduce water use and maintain green space. 
  • Brownfield site cleanups that minimize water demand by capturing, reclaiming and storing water for reuse.

Available Technical Assistance   

Be sure to check out the Climate-Smart Brownfields Manual to understand the range of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies that can be applied on and around brownfield sites, as well as other technical assistance resources below.

  • Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities: EPA provides no-cost technical assistance to communities, states, Tribal Nations and other public entities to help increase their understanding and involvement in brownfields cleanup, revitalization and reuse. Experts in all ten EPA regions are available to assist with grant applications, site inventories, reviewing historical information, designing site investigations, sampling analysis, and cleanup and redevelopment planning.  
  • Nationwide Brownfields Technical Assistance Providers: EPA supports a range of expert organizations nationwide that offer free technical assistance to communities with brownfields issues. These organizations provide comprehensive support covering technical guidance to Tribes, job training, equitable development, land banking and anti-displacement strategies for brownfield revitalization. 
  • Targeted Brownfields Assessment Program: EPA’s TBA program is designed to help minimize the uncertainties of contamination often associated with brownfields, especially for those entities without EPA Brownfields Assessment Grants. Under the TBA program, an EPA contractor conducts environmental assessment activities to address the requester’s needs. The contractor can conduct Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments with climate change in mind. The Climate-Smart Brownfields Manual includes questions to consider during a Phase I and Phase II ESA. This resource is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis as funding allows and at sites selected in accordance with specific criteria. 
  • Land Revitalization Technical Assistance: Land Revitalization Technical Assistance can help a community determine which types of brownfield site reuse approaches are feasible, given local conditions (e.g., climate and environmental site conditions), infrastructure availability, community site design preferences and funding resources. 

Connections to Other EPA, Federal or Non-Governmental Efforts 

Funding from the following programs can be used in combination with the Brownfields Multipurpose Grants Program to advance climate-smart brownfield revitalization projects.

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Last updated on September 13, 2024