By Anne Lazo, BCONE Executive Director

What are the odds that the 2023 EPA Brownfield Grants notice came out while attending my first BCONE Regulatory Committee meeting as the Executive Director? It was exciting to hear how each state would benefit from these funds. This year’s grant awards were the most significant investment ever made in brownfield redevelopments! 

Undoubtedly, the funds for all the states will provide the added financial assistance to revitalize our communities. I see these projects creating more affordable housing along with job growth. I envision the start-up of new business enterprises. Most importantly, I see greener, healthier spaces for those in these areas.

The members of BCONE’s Regulatory Committee will undoubtedly be busy implementing these grants in their respective states. These awards are a true testament to the commitment the states in EPA Regions 1, 2 and 3 have made toward cleaning up brownfields. 

Here is a listing of the funding breakdowns:

• Brownfields Multipurpose Assessment & Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup (MARC) Grant: 262 communities were selected to receive 267 grants totaling more than $215M; the highest funding level ever announced. You can find out more here: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicants-selected-fy-2023-brownfields-multipurpose-assessment-revolving-loan-fund
• Non-Competitive Supplemental Funding through the Existing Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant Program: $45M in non-competitive supplemental funding was given to 22 successful RLF program grantees. Read more here: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicants-selected-fy-2023-brownfields-multipurpose-assessment-revolving-loan-fund
• Brownfields Technical Assistance Providers (TAB) and Research Grants: 5 TAB providers were awarded $53M in grants. Among those, the University of Connecticut (UCONN) received $5M in funding as the Region 1 TAB provider, the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) received $10M in TAB funding for Regions 2 and 4, and the West Virginia University Research Corporation received $5M in TAB for Region #3.

In closing, I would like to mention that the 2023 Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop Planning Committee will be working with the Regulatory Committee to hold a virtual “Ask the Regulator” session as a pre-Conference program. We should be opening registration this month and hope you will join us for what is shaping up to be one of the industry’s best Conferences focused on brownfield redevelopment and sustainability. 

Posted June 20, 2023