Brownfield Grants and Loans

Assistance Information:

Audience: local units of government including brownfield redevelopment authorities (BRAs), economic development corporations, or other public bodies created pursuant to state law.

Purpose: To pay for environmental evaluations/assessments, baseline environmental assessments, due care planning and implementation, response activities, and demolition, lead, mold, or asbestos abatement.

Eligibility: Grants are available to determine whether a property with redevelopment potential is contaminated, and for due care and cleanup at contaminated properties with a specific redevelopment, when economic benefits will exceed the grant amount. Grants cannot benefit a party responsible for an activity causing contamination.

Loans may be used at properties with suspected contamination and economic development potential. Loans may be available when a responsible party will benefit, but with some restrictions.

Deadline: Applications are accepted year-round.

Financial: Grants: up to $1 million. Loans: up to $1 million loan per project, or more for projects with significant economic or environmental benefits.

Loans: Interest rate is 1.5%, 15-year payback, beginning with a 5-year interest-free, payment-free grace period. May be repaid through a Brownfield Redevelopment Authority using tax increment financing.