Brownfields Funding

Funding resources listed here support all aspects of brownfield redevelopment and economic development activities. Some resources focus solely on traditional economic development activities (e.g., support for small businesses in economically distressed areas), but they can be applied to smart growth economic activities (e.g., encouraging small businesses to locate in mixed-use communities and communities slated for revitalization).

Micro-enterprise Fund for Innovation, Effectiveness, Learning, and Dissemination (Aspen Institute):
FIELD, a program of the Aspen Institute, was created in 1998 in order to identify, develop and disseminate best practices in the micro-enterprise field and to broadly educate policymakers, funders, and others about micro-enterprise as an anti-poverty intervention. FIELD makes targeted grants to practitioner organizations that are pioneering promising approaches that address key challenges in the micro-enterprise field. Contacts: Damon Bethea, 202-736-1071

Public Works and Development Facilities Program (DOC/Economic Development Administration):
Grants are provided to help distressed communities attract new industry, encourage business expansion, diversify local economies, and generate long-term, private sector jobs. Among the types of projects funded are water and sewer facilities primarily serving industry and commerce; access roads to industrial parks or sites; port improvements; and business incubator facilities. Contacts: Anne Berblinger, Deena Sosson, 503- 326-3078

Community Base Reuse Plans (DoD/Office of the Secretary of Defense):
The purpose of the program is to assist local governments or states to conduct community base reuse plans at closing or realigning military installations. Contacts: Director, Office of Economic Adjustment, 703-604-5948

Community Economic Adjustment Planning Assistance (DoD/Office of the Secretary of Defense):
This program assists local governments or states to undertake community economic adjustment planning activities to respond to military base closures and realignments. Contacts: Director, Office of Economic Adjustment, OASD, 703-604-6020

Bank Enterprise Award Program (Department of Treasury):
The purpose of this program is to encourage insured depository institutions to increase their level of community development activities in the form of loans, investments, services and technical assistance within distressed communities and to provide assistance to community development financial institution's through grants, stock purchases, loans, deposits, and other forms of financial and technical assistance. The program rewards participating insured depository institutions for increasing their activities in economically distressed communities and investing in community development financial institutions. Contacts: Department of Treasury, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, 202-622-8662

Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilots (EPA/OSWER):
This program is designed to empower states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together to prevent, assess, safely cleanup, and sustainable reuse brownfields. Contacts: Superfund Hotline, 800-424- 9346

Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Pilots (EPA/OSWER):
This initiative is designed to empower states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainable reuse brownfields. Contacts: EPA-OSWER Outreach and Special Projects Staff, 202-260-4039

Superfund Technical Assistance Grants for Citizen Groups at Priority Sites (EPA/Office of Emergency and Remedial Response):
This program provides funds to community groups so they can hire technical advisors who assist the groups in interpreting technical information concerning the assessment of potential hazards and selection and design of appropriate remedies at sites eligible for cleanup under the Superfund Program. Funds can be used at sites listed or proposed for the National Priorities List (NPL) where cleanup is under way. Contacts: EPA's Office of Emergency and Remedial Response Community Involvement and Outreach Center, 703-603-8889

Community Development Block Grant Program (HUD):
The purpose of this program is to ensure decent affordable housing, to provide services to vulnerable populations, and to create jobs and expand business opportunities. CDBG is an important tool to help local governments tackle the most serious challenges facing their communities. Contacts: Bob Meehan, 202-708-1112,

Coastal Services Center Cooperative Agreements (NOAA):
To help in building capabilities throughout the nation to address pressing issues of coastal health and change by conserving coastal environments and promoting efficient and sustainable commercial and residential development. Contacts: Violet Legett, 843-740-1222 or aspe.os.dhhs.gov/cfda/p11473.htm

Empowerment Zones Program (USDA/Office of Community Development):
This initiative assists inner city residents and businesses to address overcome local issues. The program encourages the transformation of vacant lots or abandoned buildings into new business complexes and affordable housing. Contacts: Bob Meehan, 202-708-1112

Community Development Venture Capital (Small Business Administration):
This program helps create an economic infrastructure in under served areas by encouraging business growth through program-supported investment. This type of investing is known as "double bottomline" investing because the investments have both an anticipated financial and social return. Social returns include creating sustainable jobs at businesses receiving investments from NMVC companies and encouraging such businesses to provide new products and services within under served areas. Contacts: SBA Office of New Markets Venture Capital, 202-205-6510

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