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 9 awarded Richmond Community Foundation a $1 million Cooperative Agreement under the Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 66.818), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030. Funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), this award capitalizes a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to provide loans and subgrants for brownfield remediation and redevelopment in Richmond, North Richmond, and Pinole, California. Richmond Community Foundation will administer subgrants to eligible entities for cleanup activities and competitively procure qualified environmental professionals to oversee site remediation.

The recipient will deliver approximately 3 loans and 2 subgrants to remediate 5 brownfield sites, complemented by community engagement and administrative activities including 20 community meetings, 5 brownfield cleanup alternatives analyses, and 20 quarterly progress reports submitted through the EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES). Additional deliverables include community involvement plans and administrative records for each remediated site. These activities are designed to benefit residents, business owners, and stakeholders across the three targeted California communities by addressing environmental contamination and facilitating site redevelopment.

The purpose of this agreement is to provide funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) for richmond community foundation to capitalize a revolving loan fund (RLF) as authorized by cercla 104(K)(3) in richmond, north richmond and pinole, california. This cooperative agreement provides full federal funding in the amount of $1,000,000. 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:RCF will administer subgrants to eligible entities for brownfields cleanup activities.outcomes:richmond community foundations (RCF) aims to leverage an EPA brownfields revolving loan fund grant to support the cleanup and beneficial reuse of brownfields. Further, the recipient will issue approximately 3 loans and 2 subgrants to remediate 5 brownfield site(S); anticipates holding 20 community meetings, finalizing 5 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 richmond, north richmond, and pinole, california.