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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 awarded a $1.0 million Cooperative Agreement to the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority under the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.818) on October 1, 2025. Funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), this award supports the re-capitalization of a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to finance loans and subgrants for brownfield remediation activities in and near Hamilton County, Ohio. The agreement authorizes the Port to make environmental cleanup loans and subgrants to eligible entities, competitively procure qualified environmental professionals to oversee site remediation activities, and establish community involvement plans and administrative records for each remediated site.

Deliverables under this five-year cooperative agreement (through September 30, 2030) include issuing at least one loan and subgrant for brownfield site remediation, conducting multiple community meetings, completing at least one alternatives analysis for brownfield cleanup, managing RLF operations prudently, and submitting quarterly progress reports totaling approximately 20 reports through the EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES). The recipient will report program income, interim progress, and final accomplishments using standardized Property Profile Forms and Brownfields RLF Forms. These activities are designed to support environmental remediation and economic revitalization for residents, business owners, and stakeholders throughout the Hamilton County region.

This agreement will provide funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) for the port of greater cincinnati development authority (the port) to RE-capitalize a revolving loan fund as authorized by cercla 104(K)(5)(a)(II) in and near hamilton county, ohio. Activities:specifically, this agreement will provide funding for the recipient to RE-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 granted to eligible entities for the remediation of brownfield sites.outcomes:further, the recipient will issue at least one loan and subgrant to remediate various brownfield sites; anticipates holding various community meetings, finalizing at least one analysis of brownfield cleanup alternatives, and submitting 20 quarterly reports. Work conducted under this agreement will benefit the residents, business owners, and stakeholders in and near hamilton county, ohio.