FY26 Guidelines for Brownfield Assessment Grants (Assessment Coalition Grants)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization is offering funding through the Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grants to support the revitalization of brownfield sites across the country. These grants are part of the EPA's broader efforts to empower communities, particularly those facing environmental injustices and economic challenges, to assess, plan, and prioritize the cleanup and reuse of contaminated properties. The program is grounded in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Section 104(k), with the statutory authority for this opportunity provided under CERCLA § 104(k)(2). The funding opportunity is identified by the number EPA-OLEM-OBLR-25-05. The purpose of the Assessment Coalition Grant is to fund the development of brownfield site inventories, conduct community outreach and planning activities, perform environmental site assessments, and create reuse and cleanup plans. While cleanup work is not eligible under this opportunity, the program does allow applicants to use a portion of the funds for planning and community engagement, and up to 10% for specific health monitoring activities and enforcement of institutional controls. Coalitions consist of one lead eligible applicant that applies on behalf of two to four non-lead members who lack the capacity to apply individually. Up to $1.5 million may be requested per coalition, with no required matching funds. Eligible applicants include a wide range of governmental and nonprofit entities, including general purpose units of local government, regional councils, redevelopment agencies, federally recognized Indian tribes (excluding most in Alaska), Alaska Native corporations, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Each coalition must identify at least three distinct municipal or jurisdictional target areas, and one non-lead member must never have received a MARC grant. The lead member must have legal authority to expend grant funds on behalf of the coalition and submit a Memorandum of Agreement outlining the roles and responsibilities. Applications are due by January 28, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET through Grants.gov, with awards expected to be announced by September 2026. A national outreach webinar is scheduled for December 3, 2025. Required submission documents include a federal SF-424 form, budget details, narrative responses addressing eligibility and review criteria, and a letter from the appropriate State or Tribal environmental authority. The application must comply with technical standards, including page and format limits. Proposals will be reviewed for responsiveness and evaluated based on narrative quality in areas such as project planning, community need and engagement, environmental and economic outcomes, and past performance. Successful applicants will receive a cooperative agreement with EPA, which allows for substantial agency involvement in implementation. Recipients must also comply with programmatic requirements including reporting, quality assurance, and where applicable, Build America, Buy America sourcing requirements.

Applicants should clearly identify target areas and priority sites, include detailed outputs and outcomes, and ensure that their proposed costs are reasonable and site-specific work is emphasized. Avoid including ineligible activities, and verify that procurement procedures for any contractors or subrecipients comply with federal rules.