Apply now: EPA announces FY 2019 Brownfields Program grant opportunities

Key Takeaways

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially opened the FY 2019 Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup competitive grant competition Nov. 28. As part of the announcement, EPA released application guidelines for the three brownfields program grants as authorized by the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018. More than 100 grants and $50 million in funding is expected to be awarded in FY 2019.

Learn More

• Multipurpose Grant Guidelines
• Assessment Grant Guidelines
• Cleanup Grant Guidelines

Application deadlines for all grants is Jan. 31, 2019.

Brownfields sites are abandoned or under-utilized industrial and commercial properties, which are contaminated (or perceived to be contaminated) due to past practices. EPA’s brownfields program, originally authorized in 2002 through the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act and reauthorized through the 2018 BUILD ACT, provides technical assistance and grants for local communities, including counties, to undertake brownfields redevelopment projects at old manufacturing and industrial facilities, abandoned mills, mines and areas with leaking underground storage tanks. The grant opportunities include:

Multipurpose Grants

The omnibus created Multipurpose Brownfields Grants for up to $1 million allowing communities to undertake multiple site brownfields projects under the same grant. EPA anticipates awarding 10 Multipurpose Grants of an estimated $800,000 per grant. Click here to view FY 2019 Multipurpose Grant Guidelines.

Assessment Grants

Assessment Grants provide funding for developing and conducting site assessments, cleanup plans and community involvement strategies. However, Assessment Grant funds may not be used to conduct cleanup activities. EPA anticipates awarding 114 Assessment Grants for an estimated $37 million Community-wide and site-specific proposals are funded up to $200,000 over three years per grant and Assessment Coalition proposals are funded up to $600,000 over three years per grant. Click here to view FY 2019 Assessment Grant Guidelines.

Cleanup Grants

The omnibus increased funding for Brownfields Remediation Cleanup Grants from $200,000 to $500,000 per grant and allows the EPA to increase that amount up to $650,000 based on need. EPA anticipates to awarding 40 Cleanup Grants for an estimated $11 million. Click here to view FY 2019 Cleanup Grant Guidelines.