Technical Assistance for Brownfields

State Brownfield Funding Programs

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The following provides a summary of State Brownfield funding available for states within NJIT TAB Geographic Zone 1 service area. Geographic Zone 1 consists of states within EPA Regions 1, 2 and 3.

Region 1

Connecticut

  • Urban Site Remedial Action Program: Capitalized at $40,500,000 in state-bond funds,  this program provides funding for assessment/remediation of sites in “Distressed Municipalities” or “Targeted Investment Communities”. State Urban Bond Funds can be used only when an owner cannot be found or is unwilling or unable to investigate or remediate a site.
  • Special Contaminated Property Remediation and Insurance Fund (SCPRIF): Provides low interest loans to municipalities and private entities for Phase II and III investigations and demolition costs
  • Brownfield Pilot Program: Provides $4,500,000 in grants per year for 2008 and 2009 for investigations, remediation and redevelopment. The $4,500,000 is awarded competitively to five municipalities.
  • Brownfield Grants and Loans Program: Provides loans to private brownfield redevelopers and grants to municipalities or redevelopment agencies.
  • Underground Storage Tank Petroleum Clean up Account: Provides reimbursement for up to $1,000,000 per release for taking corrective actions.
  • Connecticut Brownfields Redevelopment Authority: Provides direct loans, loan guarantees and tax increment financing (TIF).
  • Environmental Insurance: State assistance to redevelopers to purchase environmental insurance.


Maine

  • Assessment and Clean up Funding: Federal Section 128 (a) Brownfields grant funding and State Uncontrolled Sites Fund will pay for staff time to assist redevelopment projects
  • Other: State Voluntary Clean up Program (VCP) provides limited funding support for state staff time when an interested party wants to participate in the VCP.


Massachusetts

  • Waste Site Clean up Program: Funded by the state general fund with support from federal grant programs.
  • Brownfields Redevelopment Fund (BRF) Program: Provides interest free site assessment financing up to $100,000 per site. Also offers low interest financing up to $500,000 for clean up. Remediation loans are secured by a mortgage and the borrower must be the owner of the site.
  • Brownfields Tax Credit for Remediation: 25% tax credit for remediation on brownfield sites with restricted use designations and 50% tax credit for remediation without use restrictions for projects within Economically Distressed Areas (EDAs).
  • Municipal Tax Abatement: Municipalities can negotiate back taxes on contaminated sites in exchange for commitment by a new owner to clean up site and restore it to tax roles.
  • Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP): Tax increment financing, abandoned building tax deduction and investment tax credit for revenue generating projects located in Economic Target Areas (ETAs).
  • Brownfield Redevelopment Access to Capital (BRAC): State subsidized, volume discounted environmental insurance provided through a private insurer and administered by MassBusiness. The state subsidizes premiums on policies up to 50%.


New Hampshire

  • Hazardous Waste Clean up Fund (HWCF): Administered by Waste management Division of the NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES). The HWCF can be used for environmental studies, remedial actions and grants to local governments. State law requires that the governor certify that circumstances require use of fund.
  • Clean up Grant Program: Operated by NHDES under their Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). The program allows sub-grants up to maximum of 40% of the RLF grant.
  • Tax Incentive: “Qualified Holder” provisions of hazardous waste and petroleum statues provide protection to lenders and municipalities.
  • Tax Incentive: Brownfields sites are exempt from state hazardous waste generator fees.


Rhode Island

  • Rhode Island Targeted Brownfield Assessment Program: The purpose of the TBA program is to provide environmental assessments of brownfield properties. This program is specifically targeted at government, tribal and non-profit organizations. The TBA is conducted by one of the RI Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) technical assistance contractors.
  • Brownfield Clean up Revolving Loan Fund: The RI EDC in coordination with the RIDEM administers a RLF program. Grants are available to non-profits and municipalities.
  • Mill Building Tax Credits: Tax credits for investors who renovate certified mill buildings in 11 participating municipalities.


Vermont

  • Technical Assistance Program (Grant of Services): The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VDEC) provides technical and financial assistance with environmental site assessment, cleanup planning and cleanup.  All work is paid for by the Department and performed by pre-qualified contractors.  Funding is up to $200,000 per project.
  • Brownfields Revitalization Fund (BRF) (Grants and Loans): This fund is administered by the Agency of Commerce and Community Development in consultation with the VDEC. Grants are available for environmental site assessment, cleanup planning, cleanup and the cost of environmental insurance.  Loans are available for cleanup. Assessment grants are available up to $50,000 per project.  Cleanup grants are up to $200,000 per project.  Cleanup loans are available up to $250,000 per project. 
  • Regional Assessment Program (Grant of Services): Vermont’s Regional Planning Commissions (RPC’s) provide technical and financial assistance for environmental site assessment and cleanup planning to eligible brownfield projects within each region.  Work is paid for by the RPC and performed by pre-qualified consultants with the VDEC project oversight.
  • Petroleum Cleanup Fund (Grants): The petroleum cleanup fund is administered by the VDEC and provides financial assistance with costs incurred in connection with accidental releases from underground and aboveground storage tanks.
  • Vermont Community Development Program (Grants): The Vermont Community Development Program (VCDP) is administered through the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and provides grants of up to $750,000 for municipal and nonprofit development projects.  Grants are primarily available for development activities, but may also be utilized for brownfield cleanup, provided assistance from brownfield specific sources is considered first.
  • Tax Incentives: Tax incentives for rehabilitation of existing properties in designated “downtown” areas; not specific to brownfields but contaminated properties are eligible
  • The Brownfield Revitalization Fund will provide grants to assist with purchase of environmental insurance in connection with implementation of a state approved work plan

Region 2

New York

  • Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Program: Under the BOA program, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), in partnership with the NYS Department of State, provides financial assistance to municipalities and community based organizations. Funding can be used to complete revitalization plans and implementation strategies for areas affected by the presence of Brownfields. Funding is available up to 90% of the cost to perform site assessments and feasibility analysis for strategic brownfield sites
  • Targeted Brownfield Assessment Program: NYSDEC may be able to nominate sites for assessment under the USEPA’s Targeted Brownfield Assessment Program. The assessments are performed at no cost to the requesting community at sites where there is a clear public benefit and the community did not cause the contamination.
  • Environmental Restoration Program (ERP): New York State Department of State provides grants to municipalities for reimbursement of a portion (up to 90% on site and 100% off site) of eligible costs for site investigation and remediation. A municipal cost share is required. Remediation may include clean up of contaminated media and may also include building demolition, for which reimbursement up to 50% of eligible costs is available.
  • Brownfield Clean up Program (BCP): A comprehensive package of tax incentives is available under the BCP to parties cleaning up sites. These incentives will offset costs associated with site preparation and property improvements and include tax credits based on real property taxes and the purchase of environmental insurance.


New Jersey

  • Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund (HDSRF):  The HDSRF is administered through a partnership between the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the NJ Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). Grants and loans are available to public entities, private entities, and non-profit organizations that perform a remediation under NJDEP oversight. Grants are available to conduct PA, SI, and RI activities for real property on which the public entity holds the tax sale certificate, has acquired the property through foreclosure or other similar means, or has acquired or passed a resolution, ordinance or other appropriate document to acquire the property by voluntary conveyance for the purposes of redevelopment. These grants provide for 100% of the eligible costs and are capped at $3 million per municipality per calendar year. Loans are available to private entities for up to 100% of the funding needed to remediate a discharge of hazardous substances up to $1 million per year.

  • Brownfield Development Area (BDA): Under the BDA program, NJDEP works with selected communities affected by multiple brownfields to design and implement remediation and reuse plans. The NJDEP selects the BDA communities based on a yearly application process. An additional $2 million in grants per municipality per calendar year is available to BDA communities to perform PA, SI, RI, and RA activities on contaminated property located within a designated BDA. An ownership interest in the property is not required. The grant provides 100% of eligible costs for a PA, SI, and RI and 75% of eligible costs for an RA.

  • Brownfield Redevelopment Loan Program: The BRFP is a $2,000,000 RLF program available to 11 municipalities in New Jersey to fund brownfield redevelopment projects.

  • Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Remediation: Low interest loans are available to business owners, municipalities, schools and counties for removal of USTs and remediation of accidental releases.

  • New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust: Provides upfront capital to assist in the pre-development stage of Brownfield projects.  Trust financing is limited to municipal and county governing bodies; municipal, county and regional water, sewer and utility authorities; county improvement authorities; certain state authorities and private water purveyors.

  • Brownfields and Contaminated Site Remediation Program: A program designed to restore key brownfields sites to productive use through incentives that can make the  redevelopment more affordable.  The program is funded through new sales taxes derived from businesses that are located on these formerly contaminated and unusable properties.


Region 3

Pennsylvania

  • PENNVEST Brownfield Redevelopment Funding: Low interest loans for the remediation of sites that have been contaminated by past industrial or commercial activity and pose a threat to local groundwater or surface water source. Applicants must be a unit of municipal or county government or an affiliated industrial or economic development or redevelopment agency. Specific assessments and remediation activities on contaminated properties are eligible.


Delaware

  • Department of Natural Resource and Environment Control’s (DNREC) Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act Policy on Brownfields Grants: The policy was created to provide funding to eligible parties to help pay for assessment, investigation and remediation costs. The grant funding comes from the Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act (HSCA) Fund. Up to five million dollars is available in any fiscal year for the purpose of providing Brownfields Grant funding to eligible private and public entities. However, no more than one million may be allocated to any one public entity or non-profit brownfield redevelopment project and/or applicant in any single fiscal year. For funding to private parties, no more than $225,000 is available to any single private brownfield redevelopment project for costs incurred for assessment, investigation, remedial activities or DNREC’s oversight charges.
  • DEDO Brownfields Grant Funding: The Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) may provide matching Brownfields redevelopment grant funding through the Delaware Economic Development Authority (DEDA). The funding source is the Delaware Strategic Fund. Eligibility requirements include consistency with state economic development strategies and goals, as well as number of jobs created.
  • Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act Loan Program: The HSCA Fund may also be used to provide loan funding, in consultation with DEDO.  Loans may only be made to potentially responsible parties who have entered into a settlement agreement with the DNREC to perform a remedy at a facility. Loan proceeds for any individual facility may not exceed $250,000 or 90% of the total amount required to complete the project. The decision on granting of loans may be based on one or more of the following criteria:

    • availability of funds,

    • financial viability of the party,

    • economic benefit from the reuse of the remediated facility,

    • degree of risk reduction, and

    • compatibility with DNREC goals or objectives under HSCA

  • Hazardous Substance Site Cleanup Loan Program (HSSCLP): The Hazardous Substance Site Cleanup Loan Program (HSSCLP) was established to provide financing to viable businesses to complete environmental investigations and to remediate contamination. The HSSCLP is funded by the Delaware Water Pollution Control State Revolving Fund (SRF). Only work that is directly related to improving, restoring or protecting groundwater, surface water or sediment quality is eligible for financing under the HSSCLP.


Maryland

  • Maryland Brownfields Clean up Revolving Loan Fund: The Maryland Department of the Environment was awarded a cooperative agreement from EPA for a RLF program. Eligible entities can be public or private. The Maryland Department of the Environment Voluntary Clean up Program (MDEVCP) is the lead agency. The MDE Waste Management Administrations Office of Administrative Services will serve as fund manager.
  • Maryland Brownfields Revitalization Incentive Program: Provides loans and grants for financing site assessments, clean up and site improvements on “Qualified Brownfield Sites” (sites in the Maryland Voluntary Clean up Program or Oil Control Program and meeting statewide objectives). Current owners, as well as potential purchasers, can benefit from site assessment assistance. Only innocent purchasers can be assisted for clean up and other site improvements.
  • Brownfields Assessments/State Superfund Division: Grants available for the Phase 1 and Phase 2 testing of publicly and privately owned sites: involves EPA oversight.
  • Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund: Low interest loans for remediation projects that benefit water quality on Brownfield and Voluntary Clean up site. The loans are available from the Water Quality Financing Administration of the Maryland Department of the Environment.


Virginia

  • Grant of Services-Brownfields Assessments: Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) performs brownfields assessments under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at no cost to communities, property owners or prospective purchasers.  The assessment is an evaluation of environmental impacts caused by previous site uses similar to a Phase II Environmental Assessment.  The brownfields assessment includes, but is not limited to:
    • Research of the history of the property;
    • Review of any existing records or reports associated with the property; 
    • Sampling of the potentially contaminated media on the property; 
    • Laboratory analysis of the samples for the contaminants of concern; 
    • Screening of the results to determine if use of the site should be unrestricted.
  • Virginia Brownfield Remediation Loan Program (VBRLP): The purpose of the VBRLP  is to provide a source of low-interest loan financing to encourage the cleanup and reuse of contaminated properties. The source of the money is the Virginia Water Facilities (Wastewater) Revolving Loan Fund. Loan recipients must be a unit of local government, a public service authority, a partnership, or a corporation chartered to conduct and carry out business in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Loan proceeds can be used for the following activities:
    • Costs associated with remediation of sites contaminated as a result of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant release
    • Reimbursement of any outside services procured for the development of the site assessment or outside engineering services needed to develop engineering documents to facilitate remediation and site clean up activities.
    • Cost associated with conducting any real estate title search and related title work (including legal fees and any filing and recording cost related to any collateral to be assigned to VRA for loan security) as well as any legal or additional professional services related to the assigned collateral such as title insurance premiums and survey fees.


West Virginia

  • West Virginia Brownfield Assistance Centers: The West Virginia legislature established two brownfield assistance centers. One is located at Marshall University (serves the southern 22 WV counties) and the other is located at West Virginia University (serves the northern 33 WV counties). One of the responsibilities of these centers is to provide training and free technical assistance on Brownfield site development, site assessment, remediation and community involvement. Another responsibility of the centers is to administer federal bownfield job training grants, site assessment grant, revolving loan funds and clean up grants.
  • FOCUS WV Brownfields Mini Grant Program: The Northern WV Brownfield Assistance Center has developed a mini grant program to support Brownfield development. The FOCUS WV Brownfields Mini Grant Program provides funding and site analysis tools to support brownfield development. The FOCUS program is divided into two phases:
    • Stage I: Site Analysis and Revitalization Planning
    • Stage II: Site Design and Marketing Implementation

Eligible entities may receive up to $5,000 in assistance.

 
  Funding Sources