Description
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting applications for Community-wide Assessment Grants for States and Tribes. The purpose of these grants is to provide funding for developing inventories of brownfield sites, prioritizing sites, conducting community involvement activities, conducting planning, conducting site assessments, and developing reuse plans related to brownfield sites. The grants are available to states and Tribes, and applicants may request funding up to $2,000,000. The EPA expects to award an estimated 25 grants for a total of $50 million. The project period for awards resulting from this solicitation is expected to be 2 years.
• The EPA's Brownfields Program provides funds to empower states, Tribal Nations, communities, and nonprofit organizations to prevent, inventory, assess, clean up, and reuse brownfield sites.
• The program has a rich history rooted in environmental justice and is committed to helping communities revitalize brownfield properties, mitigate potential health risks, and restore economic vitality.
• The EPA expects that funding awarded will advance the Biden Administration's Justice40 Initiative, which establishes a goal to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits from key federal investments to disadvantaged communities.
• Applicants must demonstrate a vision for the reuse and redevelopment of brownfield sites, a strategy for leveraging resources, and strong community engagement.
• The EPA will evaluate applications based on the extent to which the applicant demonstrates the environmental, social, health, and economic needs and benefits of the target areas, reasonable costs, eligible tasks, and appropriate use of grant funding.
• The EPA will also consider the capacity for managing and successfully implementing the cooperative agreement and other factors.