What is the Future of US EPA Brownfields & Environmental Justice Grants?
January 2, 2024
By: Chris Gdak
Curious about the future of US EPA Brownfields and Environmental Justice (EJ) grants? These programs have been around since the mid-1990s, with annual funding ranging from $60-100M. With recent elections and a second Trump term, it’s natural to wonder about the future of these programs. To understand what lies ahead, let’s take a look at the past.
Historical Context You Should Know
For 30 years, the EPA has held annual brownfield grant competitions to help communities inventory, assess, clean up, and plan the redevelopment of underutilized properties.
- 1990s: Pilot Programs began.
- 2002: Brownfields Law was signed by President Bush, addressing challenges in revitalizing impaired properties. Funding has remained consistent across red and blue administrations, ranging from $60-90M per year.
Since 1994, the EPA has also held annual EJ grant competitions to address issues in disadvantaged communities. Funding for these grants has been steady, ranging from $1M in 1994 to $20M in 2022.
Recent Developments Affecting Funding
The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant funding increases:
- 2021: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established, including an additional $1B for EPA Brownfield Grants over five years.
- 2023: EPA allocated over $700M to establish Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (TCTACs) and EJ Grantmakers nationwide.
- 2024: EPA introduced a $2B Environmental & Climate Justice (ECJ) Community Change Grants (CCG) Program, with individual grants of up to $20M each.
Increased funding means more for brownfield projects, with implementation periods of 4-5 years:
- 2024: Funding awarded can last through 2028.
- 2025: Funding awarded can last through 2029.
What The Future Holds for Your Community
In 2018, President Trump signed the Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development (BUILD) Act, expanding the 2002 Brownfields Law. The BUILD Act increased funding thresholds for grants, opened access to funding for community-based organizations, established tax incentives in business opportunity zones, and created multipurpose grants for large sites and brownfield-impacted areas. Efforts in 2025 and 2026 may scale back remaining funds from the BIL and IRA, but historically, these grants have been popular across America, offering some optimism.
The outlook for EJ and climate resiliency seems tougher. During Trump’s first term, funding levels were flat or reduced, with proposed budgets suggesting cuts to the EPA’s EJ efforts. Despite this, some EJ grants and programs persisted, supporting community-based organizations working on EJ issues.
What You Can Do
As a community concerned about the future of these resources, take action to build or strengthen your brownfields and EJ programs. Leverage existing funding for positive change. Seek assistance from the EPA’s Technical Assistance for Brownfields (TAB) providers, TCTACs, and Grantmakers. Prepare for the next phase of large grants by strengthening partnerships and preparing detailed plans, cost estimates, and financing strategies. Contact your local representatives to support these programs.
Chris Gdak
Practice Leader for Brownfields & Community Revitalization
Chris brings 22 years of environmental consulting and brownfield redevelopment experience to his role as Montrose’s Brownfields & Community Revitalization Practice Leader. Chris focuses on assisting municipal, tribal and community-based organizations with building successful programs to achieve their goals. He has assisted clients in over 20 states and has enjoyed learning about each community’s needs and opportunities, developing relationships with local stakeholders, and contributing to the restoration and revitalization of distressed areas.
