Brownfields are real property, the expansion, development or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 awarded $1.0 million to Ravalli County Economic Development Authority (RCEDA) under the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.818) on October 1, 2025. The award will capitalize a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to finance the remediation of brownfield sites in Ravalli County, Montana through a performance period extending through September 30, 2030. Brownfields are real properties whose expansion, development, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants.

Under this cooperative agreement, RCEDA will issue approximately three loans and three subgrants to eligible subgrantees and borrowers to conduct cleanup activities at six targeted brownfield sites. RCEDA will competitively procure qualified environmental professionals to oversee site remediation activities, develop community involvement plans and administrative records for each remediated site, and conduct six analyses of brownfield cleanup alternatives. The recipient will host ten community meetings and submit twenty quarterly progress reports through the EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES). These activities will benefit residents, business owners, and stakeholders throughout Ravalli County.

This agreement will provide funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) for ravalli county economic development authority to capitalize a revolving loan fund as authorized by cercla 104(k)(3) in ravalli county, montana.activities:specifically, this agreement will provide funding for the recipient to capitalize a revolving loan fund from which to make loans and subgrants to clean up brownfield site(s) and conduct other necessary activities to prudently manage the RLF. Additionally, the recipient will competitively procure (as needed) and direct a qualified environmental professional to oversee the environmental site activities, will create a community involvement plan and administrative record for each site that is remediated, and will report on program income, interim progress, and final accomplishments by completing and submitting relevant portions of the property profile form and brownfields RLF form using EPA's assessment, cleanup and redevelopment exchange system (acres).subrecipient:subawards will be issued in the form of subgrants and loans by the recipient to eligible subgrantees and borrowers, respectively. The funds designated for subawards will be used to carry out cleanup activities at the targeted brownfield sites, as described in the recipient's application and workplan.outcomes:further, the recipient will issue approximately three loans and three subgrants to remediate six brownfield site(s), anticipates holding ten community meetings, finalizing six analysis of brownfield cleanup alternatives, and submitting twenty quarterly reports. Work conducted under this agreement will benefit the residents, business owners, and stakeholders in and near ravalli county, montana.