ActiveNot Currently Accepting ApplicationsFederal

EPA Brownfields Assessment Grants.

Competitive grants help eligible public and nonprofit entities inventory, assess, and plan for reuse of brownfield sites.

Offered byU.S. Environmental Protection Agencyverified 2026-07-10

Overview

What it does.

Chester or a qualifying regional partner can use an assessment award to investigate suspected contamination and prepare sites for cleanup and reuse. Private owners may benefit when an eligible public grantee includes their site, but they do not apply directly.

Best for: Building a verified pipeline of potentially contaminated commercial or industrial properties.

Eligibility

Who and what may qualify.

Eligible applicants

  • Eligible local governments, regional entities, states, tribes, and qualifying nonprofits as specified in the competition

Applicants excluded by the source

  • Private property owners applying directly

Eligible uses

  • Brownfield inventories
  • Site planning
  • Environmental assessments
  • Community outreach

Uses excluded by the source

  • Cleanup construction

Application

How to start.

  1. Discuss candidate sites with EPA Region 5 and Illinois EPA.
  2. Confirm applicant and site eligibility.
  3. Apply during the annual EPA competition through Grants.gov.

Timing: The FY 2026 competition closed January 28, 2026; EPA indicates FY 2027 policy updates will be published in summer 2026.

Planning notes

Limits to account for.

  • Site eligibility and liability protections must be documented.
  • Private owners cannot apply directly.

Assessment work can prepare sites for later cleanup, infrastructure, and redevelopment financing.

Evidence

Official sources.