U.S. EPA announces nearly $250 million in FY 2026 Brownfields program grants
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Charlotte Mitchell Duyshart
Andrew Nober
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Key Takeaways
On June 24, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the distribution of nearly $250 million in funding for the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup grant program. The grants flowed to more than 190 state and local government recipients around the country to support redevelopment and renewal projects on brownfield sites.
Counties strongly support the Brownfields program. Congress is currently considering reauthorization legislation for the program, and NACo urges Congress to swiftly reauthorize the program, raise its authorized funding level and lift administrative caps on grants.
The Brownfields Program
The EPA’s Brownfields program is a highly successful program that provides grants to support community redevelopment of brownfields sites that require significant investment for environmental remediation before they can be returned to use. More than 60 percent of all counties have an identified brownfield site, and the EPA has estimated there are more than 450,000 brownfields nationwide.
Since the program began in 1995, EPA has distributed $3 billion to counties, municipalities, development authorities and state agencies. The program has leveraged more than $40 billion in private investment and yielded economic dividends for communities across the country. Counties strongly support the Brownfields program and are frequent recipients of grants.
NACo’s Advocacy
Without Congressional action, the Brownfields program will run out of funding on September 30, 2026, jeopardizing a critical government program that supports economic development nationwide. On May 7, 2025. NACo testified before Congress on the program’s success and urged congressional leaders to swiftly reauthorize the program and raise its authorization levels.
On March 4, 2026, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on reauthorization legislation that would reauthorize the program but could significantly impact local governments’ ability to access funds through the program. NACo submitted a statement for the record opposing these changes.
As Congress continues to work towards a Brownfields reauthorization, NACo will continue to engage with Congressional leaders to push for reauthorization of this vital program. NACo encourages county leaders to contact their Congressional delegation and urge them to support Brownfields reauthorization.
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Advocacy
NACo testifies before Congress on brownfields revitalization
On May 7, Oswego County, N.Y. Clerk Terry Wilbur testified on behalf of NACo before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment at a hearing titled “Cleaning Up the Past, Building the Future: The Brownfields Program”.
