Preparing for the FY 2025 EPA Brownfield Grant Competition

Brownfield Grants offer a unique opportunity to transform contaminated and underutilized properties into thriving community assets. By understanding the different types of grants available and leveraging expert assistance, your community can successfully navigate the FY2025 Brownfield Grant competition and maximize your chances of securing funding! 

Best Practices for Securing EPA Brownfield Grant Funding 

When are grant applications due?

EPA’s annual Brownfield Grant competition occurs in the fall. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is typically released between August and October with applications due 8-10 weeks later.   

Why start preparing now?

Preparing for the FY2025 Brownfield Grant competition well in advance of the deadline increases your chances of success. Early preparation allows time for thorough planning, community and stakeholder engagement, and crafting a thoughtful and compelling narrative.  

What are the key elements of a successful Brownfield Grant application?

Successful grant applications require strategic planning and experienced grant writers. Essential elements of successful grant applications include: 

• Clear Project Boundary & Objectives: Present a well-defined target area and realistic goals for your project. 
• Strong Justification: Provide compelling data to demonstrate community need.  
• Clear Outcomes & Community Benefits: Describe key project outcomes and the resulting community benefits.  
• Strong Community Support: Present strategies for engaging key stakeholders, educating community members on the benefits of brownfield redevelopment, and involving a diverse group of voices on the project steering committee.  
• Comprehensive Project Plan & Detailed Budget: Detail the steps involved in the assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment process and provide a realistic budget that aligns with the proposed activities.
• Demonstrated Success: Demonstrate your past successes managing other state or federal grants.  
• Cohesive Narrative: A thoughtful narrative that includes a consistent theme carried throughout each section of the grant narrative will keep the attention of reviewers and help you score maximum points. 

Tools and Resources to Assist in the Preparation Process

• EPA’s Brownfields Program Website: Offers guidelines, FAQs, and examples of successful applications. 
• Grant Writing Workshops: Provides training on how to write compelling proposals. 
• Technical Assistance Providers: EPA has dedicated Technical Assistance providers in each region that can connect you with grant writing services and/or review your draft application prior to submittal.  
• Stick with the Winners: Montrose’s Brownfield & Community Revitalization Practice has a 100% success rate securing funding on behalf of communities, Tribes and non-profits over the past five years. Our team has experience working in all 10 EPA Regions and 40 states across the country. We understand the regional preferences and nuances of the program and provide expert guidance and support throughout the application process. 

What are common pitfalls and how can they be avoided?

• Inadequate Planning: Start working with a consultant early to provide sufficient time for crafting a compelling application and ensuring all necessary components are thoroughly addressed. 
• Lack of Community Engagement: Involve stakeholders from the beginning to garner community support and strengthen your proposal. 
• Incomplete Applications: Double-check that all required documents and information are included before submission. 
• Not Working with an Experienced Brownfield Grant Writer: This funding program is HIGHLY competitive and writing a Brownfield Grant application requires a specific expertise. Work with experienced consultants that have a proven track record and high success rate for securing funding!  

Leveraging A Brownfields Redevelopment Specialist

How can we help you?

Montrose’s Brownfields & Community Revitalization experts provide invaluable support from preparing winning grant applications to managing all facets of brownfield redevelopment. From comprehensive funding strategies to programmatic and technical project management, we offer the full suite of services needed to make your project successful.

• Funding Services: Our funding specialists secure and leverage grants, loans and other incentives to support environmental assessment, cleanup, restoration and capital improvement projects.
• Environmental Due Diligence: We conduct thorough All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) tailored to meet each end-users needs, provide appropriate due diligence and protection from CERCLA liabilities, and aid in your negotiations as a buyer or seller.
• Conventional & Advanced Site Investigation Remediation: We apply cutting edge science and technologies to streamline the site investigation and cleanup process, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. 
• Laboratory Analysis & Data Management: Our network of in-house accredited laboratories at Enthalpy Analytical provide comprehensive analytical services throughout the country and our team of chemists and data quality specialists at Environmental Standards ensure your data quality and management objectives are met.  
• Industry-leading Treatment Technologies: Our research and development team at ect2 provides state-of-science remediation technologies to address PFAS-impacted water and other traditional and emerging contaminants of concern. 
• Nature-based Solutions & Ecosystem Restoration: Our ecologists develop strategies to protect, restore, and promote resilient ecosystems that tackle environmental and social issues while preserving biodiversity, enhancing water quality, and reducing carbon.  
• Reuse Planning / Real Estate Strategy & Site Redevelopment: Our planners, architects and engineers assist with all phases of brownfield redevelopment, from conceptual site design and feasibility analysis to permitting and construction.  

EPA Announcements and Updates 

Recent EPA Brownfield Grant Announcements

See our previous blog to read out the EPA Brownfield Grant Announcements. These funds will support a wide range of activities for urban and rural communities across the country, from initial site investigation to full-scale cleanup and redevelopment.  

Other EPA Funding Opportunities

EPA has introduced several new funding opportunities and program enhancements for FY2024 and FY2025, including: 

• Increased Funding for Environmental Justice Initiatives: Up to $20M per project is available to support redevelopment initiatives that will have a meaningful impact in historically marginalized communities impacted by legacy pollution and vulnerable to climate change.
• Contaminated Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Lands: Over $20M of funding has been appropriated for Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations to assess and cleanup contamination on lands conveyed under ANCSA.
• Expanded Job Training Programs: Additional funding is available for training residents in environmental remediation and green jobs.
• Enhanced Technical Assistance: Greater support for communities needing assistance with grant applications and project planning.

Next Steps and How to Get Started 

Contact our Brownfields & Community Revitalization Practice to discuss how we can support your projects. Our team of experts is ready to help you maximize your chances of securing funding and navigate the complexities of brownfield redevelopment!