Thriving in Low-Funding Times: Keeping Brownfield Projects on Track
The brownfields funding landscape is shifting. FY27 EPA brownfield grants are reduced compared to FY26 as Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) dollars wind down. The decrease was anticipated, but it will still leave many current and potential grantees without a clear path to cleanup and reuse. Compounding this, strained state budgets and reduced federal pass-through dollars are narrowing state-level options. Together, this one-two punch could leave many brownfield programs without a clear funding pathway.
| Grant Type | Max Project Period | FY26 Max Amount Per Grant | FY27 Max Amount Per Grant | FY26 Estimated # of Awards | FY27 Estimated # of Awards | FY26 Total Per Grant Type | FY27 Total Per Grant Type |
| Multipurpose | 5 Years | $1,000,000 | NA | 20 | NA | $20,000,000 | NA |
| Assessment (Community-wide) | 4 Years | $500,000 | $500,000 | 70 | 30 | $35,000,000 | $15,000,000 |
| Assessment (State/Tribal level) | 5 Years | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | 18 | 12 | $35,000,000 | $12,000,000 |
| Assessment Coalitions | 4 Years | $1,500,000 | $1,00,000 | 39 | 13 | $58,700,000 | $13,000,000 |
| Cleanup | 4 Years | $500,000 | $500,000 | 10 | 12 | $5,000,000 | $12,000,000 |
| Cleanup | 4 Years | $4,000,000 | NA | 26 | NA | $102,000,000 | NA |
| Revolving Loan Fund | 5 Years | NA | $500,000 | NA | 28 | NA | $14,000,000 |
| Total | $255,700,000 | $66,000,000 |
FY27 Cleanup and Revolving Loan Fund Grant recipients must provide a 20% cost share/match
The good news: EPA MARC grants will still be available. Well-positioned applicants with a clear understanding of community benefits from brownfield reuse, and a robust list of sites will be well positioned to apply for federal funding. If this above describes you, starting your FY27 application now will increase your chances of success. In our 18 years as an EPA TAB provider, we’ve seen a clear pattern: applicants who start early are more likely to win. Meet with CCLR now to understand how the FY27 changes affect your project and to begin a competitive application while you still have time to sharpen the narrative, line up partners, and gather supporting data.
CCLR offers pro bono planning, community visioning, brownfield inventory, and grant management support. These services help you better understand site needs, prioritize projects, and stay in compliance; all of which make you a stronger candidate for future grants. Reach out early to get the most robust and comprehensive support.
Thinking beyond brownfields: brownfield redevelopment sits at the intersection of economic development, climate resilience, public health, and community revitalization which means it touches an unusually broad set of funding sources. Beyond traditional brownfield grants, dollars are available through state climate programs, public health initiatives, and philanthropic funders focused on equitable reuse. With the right strategy, you can stitch these together to keep projects moving. CCLR can help identify opportunities that fit your project.
Next steps
Watch our Stacking Up Success webinar (slides) to learn more about how to secure and stack funding sources to keep your brownfields project moving forward. Review the state and regional funding opportunities below to see if there is local support for assessment and cleanup activities you can leverage. Then, schedule a meeting with CCLR to discuss funding opportunities and prepare your FY27 EPA brownfield application.
State Funding:
Some states utilize EPA or state funds to support brownfield reuse. Here are some programs available in Regions 9 & 10:
Alaska:
Brownfield Assessment and Cleanup Services (DBAC): Department of Environmental Conservation provides services that support all phases of a project–from site assessment to cleanup. Each year, DBACs are awarded through an application process that runs from August – November.
Arizona:
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality: supports local governments, non-profits, Tribal Nations, hospitals, school, police and fire districts in assessment, cleanup and through its RLF program.
Cochise County Revolving Loan Fund: offering low or no interest loans and subgrants to support environmental cleanup activities in Cochise County. Property owners, developers, nonprofits and local governments can nominate sites for funding.
City of Tucson Revolving Loan Fund: Tucson Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (BRLF) Program provides financing for cleanup activities at contaminated properties within Tucson City limits. Financing is offered in the form of low-interest loans and subgrants. Detailed information is provided in the City of Tucson BRLF Guidance Manual.
California:
The Strategic Growth Council has several grant programs in 2026 that could assist with brownfield reuse:
Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program: , with approximately $98.6M available across Grants include: Planning ($300K), Project Development ($5M), and Implementation ($27.5M) grants. Final Round 6 Guidelines released April 29, 2026; implementation pre-proposals are due June 30, 2026, with full applications anticipated September 30, 2026.
Community Resilience Center (CRC) Program: approximately $55M in Planning ($500K) and Implementation ($10M) grants on a schedule expected to track TCC. Application TA is available for both, request through the SGC TA Request Form by July 31, 2026 (priority goes to Tribal applicants and Project Areas in disadvantaged unincorporated communities).
Tribal Capacity Building Program (~$5M, opening May 2026), a Tribal Housing Pre-Development Fund (up to $3M per award), Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) with applications due in June 2026, and Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC). A Round 2 Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program is also in development.
The California Natural Resources Agency’s Urban Greening Grant Program. Round 1 has approximately $46.1M available (~$100M total under Prop 4).Concept Proposals were due in RAPTR by June 4, 2026 at 5pm PST, so pay attention to this funding opportunity in 2027. Urban Greening funds tree planting, green space expansion, and green stormwater infrastructure; natural complements to brownfield reuse in urbanized areas!
For a full list of CA funding resources, click here.
Hawaii:
Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund: This revolving loan fund offers low- and no-interest loans to cleanup brownfield properties. The BCRLF is managed by the Hawaiʻi State Office of Planning (OP) and originated from a coalition grant to the City and County of Honolulu, County of Maui, and the State.
Idaho:
Southeast Idaho Council of Governments (SICOG) Assessment and Cleanup program: funded by an EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant and Revolving Loan Fund, support is available for landowners, developers and local governments in Southeast Idaho.
South-Central Idaho Brownfield Assessments: Frontier Community Resources (previously Region 4 Development Association) has funding for commercial property assessments (Phase I and/or Phase II) in South-Central Idaho
Nevada:
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection RLF: The Nevada Brownfields Program operates an $800,000 revolving loan fund (RLF) to assist eligible applicants cover clean-up costs for sites with environmental contamination. The program provides secured loans at below-market rates with flexible repayment options. Interested parties can apply for RLF funding at any time.
Oregon:
Brownfield Properties Revitalization Fund: Administered through the Oregon Business Development Department, this funding enhances availability or resources through forgivable loans to reimburse private owners or operators for the eligible costs incurred in removal or remedial actions on brownfield properties. Application Open
Oregon DEQ Site-Specific Assessments: Including Phase I Environmental Site Assessments for Public entities, non-profit/community development organizations; and “quasi-public” organizations such as port authorities.
Columbia Pacific Economic Development District: Funded by an EPA Grant, the ColPac Brownfield Revolving Loan is a low-to-no interest loan financing option for cleanup projects on properties impacted by the existence of hazardous substances and for which cleanup is necessary in order for development or redevelopment to occur.
For a full list of OR funding resources, click here.
Washington:
Washington Department of Ecology offers several funding mechanisms for brownfield reuse:
Affordable Housing Planning Grants: $1.6 million available to assist with planning. Total awards of $400,000 will be provided to local governments and non profit developers, for profit developers are also eligible with a 25% match. More information to be available this autumn.
Remedial Action Grants: post-cleanup grants to local governments that independently clean up contamination under the voluntary cleanup program. Funding amounts of $300,000-450,000 are available with a match. Funds are limited and applications are due June 16, 2026
Philanthropic Opportunities:
Local community foundations may support land reuse efforts that benefit your community. CCLR can help you identify organizations that may support your project.
Final Thoughts
By building a creative and complete funding strategy beyond competitive grants, you can strengthen your project’s chances at success. Options include general funds, special tax districts, economic development tools, public health grants, liability insurance, and philanthropic dollars directed at equitable redevelopment, environmental and/or economic causes. Identifying and combining these reduces dependence on any single competitive grant.
CCLR can help you develop a capital stack that moves your project forward without federal funds. Schedule a meeting to learn how CCLR can help.
