Brownfields Grants, administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are intended to empower communities to reclaim and revitalize sites that are hindered by contamination, or have the perception of contamination, and play a pivotal role in community rejuvenation.

Assessment Grants serve as a crucial financial resource to support a wide array of activities focused on redeveloping brownfield sites. These grants provide funding for communities to facilitate development and prioritize brownfield sites based on community need, local planning initiatives, and feedback from the community itself. They also support comprehensive site assessments, the preparation of site-specific cleanup plans, and the formulation of reuse strategies for brownfield sites. 60% of the funding from these grants must be designated for completing site assessments that include Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessment activities and Hazardous Materials Surveys. Furthermore, grant funds cannot be used for actual cleanup activities on these sites as the EPA has established a Brownfield Cleanup Grant program that specifically focuses on cleanup activities. Below are the descriptions of the types of EPA Brownfields Assessment Grants that the EPA offers:

Community-Wide Assessment Grants

Community-Wide Assessment Grants are designed to aid communities in their initial efforts to address, inventory, prioritize, and assess brownfield sites as a first step toward determining their best and highest reuse. Applicants can request up to $500,000 to assess sites contaminated by hazardous substances and petroleum products. The funding performance period lasts four years, allowing grant recipients the necessary time to accomplish their brownfield grant objectives.

Coalition Assessment Grants

Coalition Assessment Grants are similar to Community-Wide Assessment Grants, but they enable the applicant to serve as a lead entity who partners with two to four additional entities that might not otherwise possess the management capacity to apply for a brownfields assessment grant on their own.  This collaborative model is not only cost-effective but also promotes strong community engagement and supports the implementation of the community’s vision for revitalization.

Lead entities in a coalition can be state or county governments, Indian tribes not in Alaska, regional councils established under a governmental authority, or groups of general-purpose units of local government. Applicants can request up to $1,500,000 to assess sites, and the performance period lasts up to four years.

Community-Wide Assessment Grants for States and Tribes (CWAGST)

Community-Wide Assessment Grants for States and Tribes (CWAGST) are a dedicated source of funding for states, tribes, and eligible native corporations in Alaska. This funding empowers them to address brownfield sites throughout their entire jurisdiction.

Applicants can request up to $2,000,000 to assess contaminated sites, and the performance period for these grants extends up to five years, providing ample time to accomplish their brownfield grant objectives.

Trust the Experts

PM Environmental, a Pinchin company (PM), is a licensed environmental consulting firm that specializes in securing economic incentives and grant funding across the Midwest and Mid-South. Over the past 15 years, PM has successfully managed over 50 EPA Brownfield Assessment grants over multiple EPA Regions and has extensive knowledge of leveraging EPA grant funding to the advantage of clients.

With PM, you’ll have a group of experts by your side, well-versed in regulations, ready to guide you through the intricacies of meeting prerequisites and securing funding.

To get started, reach out to us at 1-800-313-2966 or simply complete our contact form. We’re here to assist you.