Brownfield Municipal Grant Program for Remediation and Limited Assessment

The Brownfield Municipal Grant Program for Remediation and Limited Assessment is administered by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development through its Office of Community Development. This program is designed to support the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield sites, which are abandoned or underutilized properties where redevelopment has been hindered by actual or suspected environmental contamination. The initiative reflects the state’s broader economic development strategy to return these properties to productive use, stimulate local economies, and encourage job creation through redevelopment activities. The primary purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to eligible entities to carry out remediation and related redevelopment activities. These efforts are intended to address environmental hazards, reduce public health risks, and unlock economic potential in communities across Connecticut. The program also emphasizes leveraging private investment and fostering public private partnerships to maximize the impact of state funding and ensure long term sustainability of redevelopment projects. Funding under this program can be used for a wide range of activities associated with brownfield redevelopment. Eligible uses include site investigation, environmental assessment, remediation and abatement, hazardous material disposal, long term groundwater monitoring, and institutional controls. Additional allowable expenses include planning, engineering, environmental consulting, legal services unrelated to DECD contracts, and structural remediation such as demolition, asbestos removal, and infrastructure improvements. These comprehensive funding allowances enable applicants to address both environmental and structural barriers to redevelopment. Eligible applicants include municipalities, economic development agencies, and Connecticut brownfield land banks. Applicants must demonstrate that they are not responsible for the contamination and must provide proof of site control or a viable path to obtaining it. The program also requires that any private development partners involved are in good standing and registered to do business in Connecticut. If projects include residential components, applicants must comply with the department’s affordable housing policy, which requires a portion of units to be deed restricted for affordability under specified income thresholds. Applications must be submitted through the state’s Euna electronic grant portal and consist of two primary sections: a threshold eligibility section and a detailed project section. Applications may be rejected based on failure to meet threshold requirements. The evaluation process considers factors such as project readiness, completeness of remediation and redevelopment plans, economic and community impact, financial leverage, and applicant experience. Projects that demonstrate alignment with state economic priorities, including job creation, renewable energy integration, and support for distressed communities, are prioritized. The application timeline for this funding round includes a deadline for submission by September 9, 2026 at noon, with questions due by August 12, 2026 and responses posted by August 14, 2026. Applicants can also participate in webinars and office hours for guidance, although these are not mandatory components of the application process. Award announcements are tentatively scheduled for November or December 2026, and applicants should expect follow up clarification requests during the review period. The program operates on a recurring funding round basis, with multiple rounds announced over time. For this round, individual project requests must fall between 200000 and 6000000 dollars, and the total funding pool across related programs is up to 25000000 dollars. The program does not specify a required matching contribution but strongly encourages leveraging private investment to enhance project impact. For additional information or assistance, applicants may contact the program via the official email brownfields@ct.gov or the designated hotline.

Emphasize project readiness strong remediation and redevelopment plans and demonstrate economic impact and private investment leverage