Keeping TABs on all things brownfield: May 2025

This month: Brownfield News, Upcoming Events, Celebrating Successes and More

1. Brownfield News

The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has announced nearly $267 million to in Brownfield grants to support communities across the country in assessing and cleaning up contaminated properties.

Funding Highlights:

• Assessment Grants: Approximately $121.8 million for 148 recipients
• EPA Region 2 (NY, PR, NJ USVI): nearly $6 million for 11 grantees
• Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN): approximately 15.4 million for 18 grantees
• Supports site inventories, reuse planning, environmental assessments, and community outreach.
• Cleanup Grants: Approximately $88.2 million for 51 recipients
• Region 2: approximately $3.8 million for 1 grantee
• Region 4: approximately $5.3 million for 4 grantees
• Funds direct remediation at brownfield sites owned by recipients.
• Revolving Loan Fund Grants: $15 million for 15 new recipients
• Includes $1 million for 1 R2 grantee
• Enables recipients to provide subgrants or low-interest loans for brownfield cleanup projects. 
• Supplemental RLF Funding: $42 million in supplemental funding to 34 high performing RLF recipients
• Region 2: $3.4 million for 4 grantees
• Region 4: $2.75 million for 2 grantees

NJIT TAB is proud to have supported communities in securing nearly $8 million in EPA brownfield funding through free grant application reviews. Beyond the awards, our technical assistance continues to play a critical role in helping many of these communities advance their brownfield redevelopment goals.

Our team remains committed to providing support to eligible entities across EPA Regions 2 & 4 - helping local governments and non-profits revitalize neighborhoods, unlock redevelopment potential and create healthier, more resilient communities at no cost.

View the list of selected applicants HERE.

NJIT TAB extends a warm welcome to Kevin J. McOmber, P.E., newly appointed as the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 4. With over 37 years of experience in civil engineering, construction management, and community development, Kevin brings a deep understanding of environmental planning, infrastructure, and sustainable urban development to this vital role.

His leadership in both the public and private sectors—including his service as Executive Vice President and National Community Practice Leader at CPL and his tenure as a City of Suwanee Councilmember—demonstrates a lifelong commitment to effective and collaborative public service. We look forward to working with Administrator McOmber as we continue supporting communities across the Southeast in their brownfield redevelopment and revitalization efforts. Welcome aboard! Read more here.

NJIT TAB welcomes the newest member of the TAB family, Grow America, which will specifically assist communities with EPA’s Brownfield Revolving Loan Funds (RLF) program. Grow America’s TAB program consists of an online resource portal, peer-to-peer learning forums, and training programs for both grantees and aspiring grantees. Read more here.

RLF grantees, visit their website and sign up for continuing updates. Grow America is also holding monthly open office hours, with this month's taking place on Wednesday, May 28 from 9:30-11:30am PT. Register now to hold your place.

Registration is now open for the National Brownfields Training Conference taking place in Chicago from Aug. 5-8. “The National Brownfields Training Conference is the largest event in the nation focused on environmental revitalization and economic redevelopment. Held every two years, the National Brownfields Conference attracts over 2,000 stakeholders in brownfields redevelopment and cleanup to share knowledge about sustainable reuse and celebrate the EPA brownfields program’s success. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned professional, Brownfields 2025 offers something for you!”

NJIT TAB supported the Mohawk Valley Brownfield Alliance in their annual Mohawk Valley Brownfields Developer Summit from April 28-29. Among the many inspiring speakers was Regional Administrator Michael Martucci, who discussed EPA’s support for brownfields transformation: “The revitalization of brownfields is not just about cleaning up land; it’s about restoring hope and opportunity in our communities.” NJIT TAB contributed a pre-conference workshop, a Brownfield Basics session, a resource table showcasing our publication Revitalizing the Mohawk Valley: A Handbook, and even a “Brownfields Bingo” activity to assist attendees with identifying the brownfield lingo we know as our second language. It was a fabulous event attended by nearly 300 participants and we are already looking forward to next year!

On April 25, NJIT TAB led a panel discussion on brownfields at the Rockland County Housing Forum. Infill housing development on remediated brownfields actually have benefits, such as preserving undeveloped land and providing developers with tax incentives to bring projects to fruition. NYSDEC announced cleanup will begin at one such project in Rye, which will transform a former hospital into a major mixed use project with residences, assisted living units, greenspace, and retail by taking advantage of NY’s Brownfield Cleanup Program.

The EPA has announced it will take action to combat PFAS contamination, which refers to a suite of chemicals that have grown to be health and environmental concerns in recent years. Based on the press release, brownfield communities should look for upcoming guidance on how properties impacted by PFAS will be investigated and remediated, especially in areas where drinking water supplies might be imperiled. “EPA will provide the foundation and investment necessary for a toolbox that will help states and communities dealing with PFAS contamination,” according to Administrator Zeldin.

2. Upcoming Events