FY27 Guidelines for Brownfield Cleanup Grants

The Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting applications for FY27 Brownfield Cleanup Grants, funded as cooperative agreements, with applications due January 21, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET. A mandatory 20% cost share required under CERCLA and a per-application ceiling of up to $500,000 (up to $650,000 with a waiver request) are the decisive constraints. Each applicant may submit only one Cleanup Grant application, requesting up to $500,000 for one brownfield site or up to $500,000 across multiple sites.

Eligible entities are government organizations, including general purpose units of local government, states, redevelopment agencies, and land clearance authorities; federally recognized Indian Tribes; nonprofit organizations; and qualified community development entities. Applicants must solely own the proposed site(s) by January 21, 2027, and meet all threshold criteria in Section 2.B, including completed Phase II environmental assessments, sufficient site characterization, and demonstrated CERCLA liability compliance or applicable landowner protections.

The cost share may be contributed as money, labor, material, or services for eligible and allowable costs under 2 CFR 200.306. It is waived for U.S. Territories and waivable for certain entities, including government entities with populations of 50,000 or less, Tribes, and nonprofit organizations, on a case-by-case basis. Administrative costs are capped at 5% of the total award.

EPA expects approximately 28 awards totaling $14 million, with 4-year project periods under substantial EPA involvement. Applicants must publish a community notification advertisement at least 7 days before a public meeting held by January 14, 2027, and provide draft Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives documents for public comment.

Applications are scored on 175 points: Project Area Description and Plans for Revitalization (55), Community Need and Community Engagement (35), Task Descriptions, Cost Estimates, and Measuring Progress (55), and Programmatic Capability and Past Performance (30). Selection considerations include communities with populations of 15,000 or less, assisting Tribes or territories, mine-scarred lands, renewable energy or energy efficiency, resilience to extreme weather, and areas affected by coal plant closures.

The opportunity is assigned to CFDA 66.818, Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Cooperative Agreements. Applicants must register with SAM.gov, obtain a Unique Entity Identifier, and submit through Grants.gov.