Cooperative Agreement 96884501

This $1,000,000 Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.818) will provide funding to North Central Montana Economic Development District, Inc. (also known as Sweetgrass Development) to capitalize a revolving loan fund. The recipient will use this funding to issue loans and subgrants to clean up and remediate approximately 4 brownfield sites contaminated with hazardous substances like petroleum, asbestos, and lead-based paint across a 5-county region in central Montana, as well as on the Blackfeet Nation and Little Shell Chippewa reservations. In addition to the site cleanup activities, the recipient will conduct community outreach, oversee environmental professionals, and report on program income and accomplishments. This 4-year award, with a start date of October 1, 2023, aims to facilitate the expansion, redevelopment, and reuse of these brownfield properties to benefit local residents, businesses, and other stakeholders in the region.