FY26 Guidelines for Brownfield Multipurpose (MP) Grants

The Brownfield Multipurpose Grant, issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization, provides financial assistance to communities aiming to assess, clean up, and revitalize brownfield sites. These sites are real properties whose redevelopment is complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. This grant is part of EPA’s broader effort to empower disadvantaged communities, mitigate environmental and health risks, and spur economic development through site reuse and revitalization. Eligible applicants include local governments, regional councils, redevelopment agencies, tribes (with specific exceptions), qualified nonprofit organizations, and certain community development entities. The grant supports projects in a defined target area—such as a neighborhood, corridor, or planning district—that includes at least one brownfield site owned by the applicant. Applicants must demonstrate legal ownership and must not be responsible for the contamination. The target area should be contiguous and cannot be geographically disparate. Priority is given to applicants planning to allocate at least 70% of funds for site-specific work, including at least 25% for cleanup. Up to $1,000,000 may be requested per applicant, drawn from an anticipated total program funding of $20,000,000 for approximately 20 awards. The performance period is up to five years. No cost sharing or match is required, and voluntary cost sharing will not be accepted. Funding can be used for site inventories, community engagement, environmental site assessments, cleanup planning, site remediation, and development of revitalization strategies. Certain planning and participant support costs are also allowable. However, funds cannot be used for proposal preparation, penalties, federal cost shares, or unallowable administrative costs beyond 5%. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM ET on January 28, 2026. All applications must include required forms, a project narrative, threshold criteria responses, and, when applicable, documentation of nonprofit or tribal status. Additional documentation, such as a letter from the state or tribal environmental authority, is required for most applicants. The EPA will conduct a threshold eligibility review and then evaluate proposals based on criteria including project area description, community need, implementation plan, budget, and organizational capacity. Selected applicants will be notified in June 2026, with formal award notifications expected by September 2026. All cooperative agreements are subject to substantial involvement by EPA project officers, including review of documents, participation in meetings, and site eligibility confirmations. The grants are part of EPA’s broader mission to promote environmental justice, community resilience, and economic renewal through equitable brownfield redevelopment.

Emphasize site ownership, prioritize site-specific work, and ensure 70% of funding is allocated to assessments and cleanup for favorable review.