Rolling Applications: The NOFO will be open for a year, closing on November 21, 2024, and EPA will review applications on a rolling basis. This allows applicants to utilize technical assistance and possibly resubmit a new application if not initially selected. EPA encourages applicants to apply as early as possible.
Two-track Submission Processes: Applications can be submitted under two separate tracks depending on the project scope and funding requested.
Oral Presentations: Track I applicants may also be invited to participate in an oral presentation. These oral presentations will enable EPA reviewers to hear directly from the applicants and their partners to learn more about community priorities, desired outcomes, and plans for long-term sustainability. This new format is responsive to community requests to engage with EPA in more accessible ways.
Target Investment Areas: Out of the $2 billion in funding, EPA has identified five Target Investment Areas (TIA) to help ensure that communities with unique circumstances, geography, and needs can equitably compete for funding. These are:
Technical Assistance: The $200 million for technical assistance is available in direct response to feedback from communities and environmental justice leaders who have long called for capacity building support for communities and their partners as they work to access critical federal resources. With this funding, there are two TA programs dedicated for the Community Change Grants. Applicants can learn more about, and express interest in, the technical assistance on EPA’s Community Change Grants Technical Assistance webpage.
FY 2024 Multipurpose Grant
Multipurpose Grants provide funding to carry out a range of eligible assessment and cleanup activities, including planning and additional community engagement activities. Applicants can apply for funding up to $1,000,000 per grant under this solicitation. EPA anticipates awarding an estimated 20 Multipurpose Grants for an estimated total of $20 million.
FY 2024 Community-wide Assessment Grant
Community-wide Assessment Grants are appropriate for communities that are beginning to address their brownfield challenges, as well as for communities that have ongoing efforts to bring sites into productive reuse. Applicants may request funding up to $500,000. EPA anticipates awarding an estimated 60 Community-wide Assessment Grants for an estimated total of $30 million.
FY 2024 Community-wide Assessments Grant for States and Tribes
Community-wide Assessment Grants for States and Tribes are available to states and Tribes. Applicants may request funding up to $2,000,000. EPA anticipates awarding an estimated 25 Community-wide Assessment Grants for States and Tribes for an estimated total of $50 million.
FY 2024 Assessment Coalition Grant
Assessment Grants provide funding for developing inventories of brownfield sites, prioritizing sites, conducting community involvement activities, conducting planning, conducting site assessments, developing site-specific cleanup plans, and developing reuse plans related to brownfield sites. A portion of the Assessment Grant funding must be used to conduct site assessments. The lead applicant can apply for up to $1,500,000. EPA anticipates awarding an estimated 26 Assessment Coalition Grants for an estimated total of $40 million.
FY 2024 Cleanup Grant
Cleanup Grants provide funding to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites owned by the applicant. An applicant may only submit ONE Cleanup Grant application in the FY24 competition cycle. EPA anticipates awarding an estimated 65 Cleanup Grants for an estimated total of $95 million. Applicants may request either:
Additional information may be found on the EPA website https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/marc-grant-application-resources#Open%20Solicitations
The program gives California communities an unprecedented opportunity to address historic environmental injustices and set a new path for land use that will have immediate and lasting benefits, such as recreational uses (parks and other green spaces), commercial enterprises and housing. ECRG funding is available to help California public entities, nonprofit organizations and Tribes to conduct:
Community-wide Assessment Grant ($350k*): First steps or early stages to learn about environmental conditions of at least three sites in a defined area where reuse is being planned. Activities may include Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Phase II Environmental Site Assessments or Preliminary Endangerment Assessments, and may also include community engagement for sites being assessed/investigated. In addition to assessment or investigation, activities may also include developing an inventory of brownfield sites, including GIS mapping, and other activities that will facilitate reuse planning.
Site-specific Investigation Grant ($150k to $7M): and/or cleanup planning at a specific site that is slated for reuse. Work includes All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) or Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, Preliminary Endangerment Assessments (PEA), supplemental or other necessary site investigations, health and ecological risk assessments, work to evaluate different cleanup methods, pilot tests to assess a potential remedial technology, and preparation of a cleanup plan.
Site-specific Cleanup Grant ($300k to $10M): This includes planning, implementation and reporting costs for the cleanup, pilot tests and sampling/analysis to design the cleanup, public engagement and cleanup-related California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) activities. A regulatory-approved cleanup plan is highly recommended for a Site-specific Cleanup Application.
Round 1 of the ECRG closed April 2022 and awardees were announced June 2022. Round 2 of the ECRG is now open and will close on October 9, 2023.
Brownfield and remediation projects can be complex. To support you through the entire process successfully, SCS Engineers provides a dedicated team of specialists. From site assessment to funding, cleanup, and construction, we provide our clients with a streamlined approach and create efficiencies that can give them a significant competitive advantage.
If you are interested in pursuing Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG) funding or EPA grants we offer complimentary consultations and project screenings. After submitting the screening form, one of our grant experts will reach out to schedule a virtual meeting.
SCS Engineers’ Brownfields Practice is a trusted resource for municipal and real estate clients planning remediation projects. We help shorten the project life-cycle and often the costs, plus we help our clients win EBJ and EPA-Phoenix awards for quality and engineering design. Our experts work with you to supplement your understanding of the brownfields grant opportunities, then help you develop a successful proposal.
In addition to the funding, our in-house grant specialists are familiar with various environmental funding sources for affordable housing projects and can tailor solutions to your needs.
Our professional engineers and consultants are available to:
This educational video resource covers USEPA and state funding for affordable housing projects and Brownfields redevelopment. This video focuses on California funding, with portions applicable in all states. Click here for the companion slides.
Meet a few of the team at this recent CCIM webinar to help get your deal with environmental issues over the finish line. Want to get there faster? JUMP TO MINUTE 8:14.
