Total grant applications for an entity
should not exceed a value of $400,000 unless a waiver has been
accepted for a total of up to $700,000.
• Cleanup Grants: provide funds
for actual brownfield site cleanup, with requests for up to
$200,000 per site. A locality may submit applications for
as many as five sites.
• Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants:
provide funds for communities to capitalize a revolving loan
fund program. An RLF program can issue loans and/or
subgrants for brownfield sites cleanup. An applicant or
coalition of applicants may apply for up to $1,000,000 to
capitalize such a program.
Localities can submit applications for
one or more type of grant depending on the work it plans to
perform. These grant programs have been successful in
many communities, and are now so popular that the award process
is now extremely competitive. Knowledge of the grant
guidelines and selection criteria can improve a
community’s chances of success. The general
criteria for the award process listed in EPA’s grant
proposal guidelines are as follows:
• Community need;
• Sustainable reuse of brownfields/
development potential.
• Creation and/or preservation of
green space/open space or other nonprofit use;
• Reuse of existing infrastructure;
• Community involvement;
• Reduction of threats to human
health and the environment,
• Leveraging of additional resources;
and
• Proposed budget to perform the work
and the ability to administer the grant.
How well a community addresses these
criteria is the key to a successful application. For the
best chance of success, EPA likes to see community involvement
and planning efforts established and documented before grant
application packages are submitted. This can be achieved
by establishing a brownfields taskforce or working group within
the community to demonstrate that an established program
exists. This taskforce should begin the process of
evaluating community needs, identifying target areas, and
developing a reuse strategy. Being proactive on
redevelopment is a vital factor in securing a grant. The taskforce
does not have to define every issue, but it should demonstrate
it has a redevelopment vision, and plans for community
involvement and developing reuse options.
Of equal importance is demonstrating
a community need for a project is imperative in a successful
grant application. The application package must include
demographic data for the target areas, including poverty rate,
unemployment, or other environmental justice factors.
Therefore, applications should focus on projects that
will benefit areas with lower income levels, high poverty rates
and/or high unemployment rates. Showing how brownfield
revitalization connects with other economic, redevelopment, or
social programs in the community can further increase the
chance of success.
In summary, EPA’s brownfield grants
represent a key component to initiating a redevelopment
program. A proactive initiative to solicit community
input and identify potential target areas will significantly
increase the success rate of securing funding from these highly
competitive grants. This does not imply that communities
without an established brownfield program should not apply.
On the contrary, the exercise in evaluating community
demographics and redevelopment needs is a perfect place to
start a program. Not all communities will be successful
in receiving funds with their first application but going
through the application process can establish a program that
will receive funding in the next round. 
If you are interested in learning more
about the Virginia Brownfield Program, the Virginia Department
of Environmental Quality and Virginia Economic Development
Partnership are hosting the 2004 Virginia Brownfields
Conference in Richmond on October 20 and 21. Virginia
has developed innovative solutions for property owners who
might feel reluctant to bring their sites forward for reuse
including amnesty from civil penalty and administrative fines
for qualifying site owners as well as free marketing of
properties. Information about the conference, including
location, agenda and invited speakers, will be posted at
www.deq.state.va.us/brownfieldweb or by calling Chris Evans,
Virginia Brownfield Coordinator, at (804) 698-4336.
For more information:
Ian D. Shaw, PE
HSMM
1315 Franklin Rd.
Roanoke, VA 24034
(540) 857-3319
ishaw@hsmm.com