Brownfields Job Training (JT) Grants

The Brownfields Job Training (JT) Grants allow nonprofits, local governments, and other organizations to recruit, train, and place unemployed and under-employed residents of areas affected by the presence of brownfield sites. Through the JT Program, graduates develop the skills needed to secure full-time, sustainable employment in various aspects of hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, and petroleum products within the larger environmental field, including sustainable cleanup and reuse, and chemical safety. These green jobs reduce environmental contamination and build more sustainable futures for communities.

Example petroleum related Job Training Programs:

Training in the assessment, inventory, analysis, and remediation of sites or facilities at which hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, and petroleum products are located, transported, or disposed, including training for jobs in environmental sampling, demolition, underground storage tank removal, groundwater extraction, site remediation, and equitable development associated with brownfields.
Training in release detection methods, techniques, and practices at underground storage tank (UST) facilities where hazardous substances and/or petroleum products are or were located, in order to assess whether the tanks have leaked or may be leaking. This includes training for:
- Jobs that conduct activities such as tank or piping tightness testing
- Testing of spill prevention equipment and containment sumps
- Inspections of overfill prevention equipment
- Testing of release detection equipment; and
- Walkthrough inspections.

(Note: EPA funds may not be used for training in equipment repairs and similar leak prevention activities, but applicants may use funding from other sources in combination with EPA funding to develop a comprehensive training curricula.

EPA’s Brownfields Job Training Grant Program is refocusing the competition on training activities that support assessment, cleanup, and preparation of brownfield sites for reuse. As part of that change, the former Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Program will now be called the Brownfields Job Training Program.

Starting in Fiscal Year 2022, funding will be available solely through EPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization and under the authorities of CERCLA §104(k)(7). Other funding sources from other EPA program offices will no longer be available to fund this program.

Please check the Brownfields Policy Changes for additional details on policy changes to the Job Training Grant Program as of May 2022.

Substantive Changes to the FY 2024 Job Training Request for Applications:

Anticipated total estimated funding of $12 million and an estimated 24 grants awarded
Entities that were awarded a FY23 Brownfields Job Training Grant are not eligible to apply for a FY24 Brownfields Job Training Grant
There is additional language around the OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER training requirement to reinforce that it’s up to applicants to make sure the 40 hours of training they are providing students is in compliance with OSHA
There is expanded language regarding eligible training for testing possible leaking underground storage tanks on brownfield sites
There is added language for the EJScreen and CEJST tool to help applicants identify disadvantaged communities for their target areas
There are some other revisions to the ranking criteria to clarify existing language

Brownfields Job Training (JT) Grants

Grant Application Resources

JT Grant Recipient Resources

General Resources