FY26 Guidelines for Brownfield Assessment Grants (Community-wide Assessment Grants)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization, administers the Brownfield Assessment Grant Program to support communities in identifying, prioritizing, assessing, and planning the reuse of brownfield sites. Brownfields are properties where reuse or redevelopment is complicated by actual or perceived contamination. The Community-wide Assessment Grant is a competitive federal funding opportunity designed to assist eligible entities in evaluating properties potentially contaminated with hazardous substances and petroleum, and in developing cleanup and reuse plans. The grants aim to promote environmental health, economic revitalization, and equitable development, particularly in historically underserved or environmentally burdened communities. Under the FY26 opportunity titled “Brownfield Assessment Grants (Community-wide Assessment Grants),” the EPA anticipates awarding approximately 70 cooperative agreements with a total funding pool of $35 million. Each successful applicant may request up to $500,000 to support eligible brownfield assessment activities. These activities include site inventories, community engagement, Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments, site-specific cleanup planning, reuse planning, and development of Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA). A portion of each grant must be dedicated to conducting site assessments. Notably, funds from this program cannot be used for remediation or direct cleanup of sites. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by January 28, 2026. There are no cost-sharing or matching requirements. The EPA encourages a wide range of eligible applicants, including local governments, regional councils, nonprofit organizations, redevelopment agencies, state governments, tribal entities, and others listed in Section 2.A of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Applicants must meet all threshold eligibility criteria and submit required documentation, including evidence of tax-exempt status or statutory authority, where applicable. Entities with existing brownfields grants must show they have drawn down at least 70% of their current funds to be eligible for new funding. The application requires several mandatory forms and narrative elements. Key documents include the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance, SF-424A Budget Information, EPA Form 4700-4, and the Key Contacts Form. Applicants must also submit an Application Information Sheet, a 10-page narrative addressing EPA’s criteria, and responses to threshold eligibility questions. Applications are evaluated on the basis of project area description, community need and engagement, technical strategy, organizational capacity, and past performance. The narrative must demonstrate how the proposed project will improve environmental outcomes and leverage resources for community benefit. Successful applications will proceed through a multi-stage review, including threshold screening and national panel evaluation. Final award decisions will consider not only application scores but also geographic and demographic diversity, including whether the target area is impacted by factors such as mine-scarred land, floodplains, or coal plant closures. Cooperative agreements will begin in fall 2026, with an expected performance period of four years. EPA may choose to partially fund or incrementally fund projects based on agency discretion, performance, and available appropriations. For technical questions or clarification, applicants may contact the EPA regional contacts listed in the NOFO or email [email protected]. Technical assistance for application submission is available through Grants.gov. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the FY26 Brownfields FAQs and EPA procurement guidance documents to ensure compliance with federal procurement and participant support cost requirements. The EPA is also hosting a national outreach webinar on December 3, 2025.

Emphasize site-specific reuse planning and public engagement. Demonstrate drawdown of existing funds and follow procurement rules.