The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded $254.5 million in brownfields grants to 265 communities on May 12.
Brownfield projects can range from cleaning up buildings with asbestos or lead contamination to assessing and cleaning up abandoned properties with contaminated groundwater. Once cleaned up, former brownfield properties can be redeveloped into productive uses.
Approximately 86 percent of the communities selected to receive funding as part of this financial assistance have proposed projects in historically underserved areas. Small, underserved communities often have groundwater-supplied water systems.
The funding includes:
- $112.8 million for 183 selectees for Assessment Grants, which will provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and community outreach
- $18.2 million for 36 selectees for Cleanup Grants, which will provide funding to carry out clean-up activities at brownfield sites owned by the recipient
- $16.3 million for 17 selectees for Revolving Loan Fund Grants that will provide funding for recipients to offer loans and subgrants to carry out clean-up activities at brownfield sites
- $107 million for 39 high-performing Revolving Loan Fund Grant recipients to help communities continue their work to carry out cleanup and redevelopment projects on contaminated brownfield properties; supplemental funding for Revolving Loan Fund Grants is available to recipients that have depleted their funds and have viable clean-up projects ready for work.
View the list of selected applicants here.