Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grants

1) Assessment Coalition Grants 

Assessment Coalitions are designed for one “lead” eligible entity to partner with two to four eligible entities that do not have the capacity to apply for and manage their own EPA cooperative agreement and otherwise would not have access to Brownfield Grants resources. Applicants must have at least two, but not more than four, non-lead coalition members. 

Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grants funds can be used for the direct costs associated with the inventory, site prioritization, community involvement, site reuse planning, assessment, and cleanup planning for brownfield sites. A portion of the Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grants funding must be used to conduct site assessments. Assessment Grant funds may not be used to conduct cleanup activities. 

The Lead Entity submits one application on behalf of the coalition members to address sites contaminated by hazardous substances (i.e., sites with potential contamination of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants) and/or petroleum (i.e., sites with potential petroleum contamination). 

Successful brownfield reuse and redevelopment often depends on early consideration of local community priorities; market conditions; infrastructure availability; environmental contamination; public health issues; and local ordinances. 

Lead Entities must identify at least one area within the geographic boundary(ies) it plans to target with the grant funds; and at least one area within each non-lead member’s geographic boundary(ies). The target areas may not overlap. 

Assessment Coalitions are required to assess at least two sites in each coalition member’s geographic boundary. 

The following entities are eligible to apply as a lead entity of a coalition:

• State; County Government; Indian Tribe other than in Alaska; an Alaska Native Regional Corporation; an Alaska Native Village Corporation; the Metlakatla Indian Community; Regional Council established under a governmental authority (e.g., Regional Planning Commissions); or a Group of General Purpose Units of Local Government established under Federal, state, or local law (e.g., councils of governments) to function as a single legal entity with authority to enter into binding agreements with the Federal Government. 
  

The following entities are eligible to participate as non-lead members of a coalition: 

• General Purpose Unit of Local Government; Land Clearance Authority; Government Entity Created by State Legislature; Regional Council established under a governmental authority (e.g., Regional Planning Commissions); or a Group of General Purpose Units of Local Government established under Federal, state, or local law (e.g., councils of governments) to function as a single legal entity with authority to enter into binding agreements with the Federal Government; Indian Tribe other than in Alaska; an Alaska Native Regional Corporation; an Alaska Native Village Corporation; the Metlakatla Indian Community; Nonprofit Organizations (i.e., 501(c)(3)); Limited Liability Corporations; Limited Partnerships; and Qualified Community Development Entities as defined in Section 45D(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 

The coalition must have at least one non-lead member that has never been awarded a Brownfield Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, or Cleanup (MARC) Grant. 

A non-lead member may not be an agency or instrumentality of, or affiliated with, the lead member or another non-lead member in the same coalition.

Coalition members may not be members of other Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grants applications, nor may coalition members submit a Community-Wide Assessment Grant application or a Community-Wide Assessment Grant for States and Tribes application as an individual applicant, in the FY25 competition cycle.

Applicants can only apply for one Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grants. 

The EPA requires applicants to adequately describe environmental outputs (performance measures) and outcomes to be achieved with the award. 

The EPA encourages communities to take an area-wide approach to planning for the assessment, cleanup, and reuse of brownfield sites; especially where multiple sites are connected through location, infrastructure, economic, social, and environmental conditions. 

A brownfield site is defined in CERCLA § 101(39) as real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, controlled substances, petroleum, or petroleum products, or is mine-scarred land. 
Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grants will be awarded as cooperative agreements. Cooperative agreements require the EPA Project Officer to be substantially involved in overseeing the work performed by selected recipients. 
For examples of grant project accomplishments across the country, please see the EPA’s Brownfield Grant Recipients’ Success Stories. For more information on a range of brownfield funding topics, please refer to the EPA’s Brownfields Webpage.