Fiscal Year 2027 Brownfields Job Training Grants
EPA-OLEM-OBLR-26-01 - Closes on September 23, 2026
This notice announced the availability of funds and solicited applications from eligible entities, including nonprofit organizations, to deliver Brownfields Job Training programs that recruit, train and place local, unemployed and underemployed residents with the skills needed to secure full-time employment in the environmental field. This includes areas such as sustainable remediation, chemical safety and site preparation for the revitalization of brownfields. To see the impact of these programs, check out this success story: Brownfields Job Training Program Success Story.
Application Resources
- Opportunity Notice at Grants.gov
- Fiscal Year 2027 Brownfields Job Training Grant Guidelines (pdf)
- FY27 JT NOFO Summary of Changes (pdf)
- Frequently Asked Questions About Brownfields Job Training (JT) Grants
- NEW! Sample FY2027 Brownfields Job Training NOFO Application Format (docx)
- Interested in Applying for Brownfields Job Training Funding?
- List of Eligible and Ineligible Brownfield Job Training Courses
- How to Register and Apply for Grants
- How to submit an application through Grants.gov
- EPA-Recommended Mapping Tools
- Brownfields Job Training Coalitions Memorandum of Agreement (pdf)
- Guidance on Competitively Procuring a Contractor (pdf)
Grant Guidelines Outreach Webinar
A public outreach webinar about EPA's FY 2027 Brownfields Job Training Notice of Funding Opportunity was held on August 6, 2026. This webinar supports applicants with understanding the NOFO for the FY 2027 Brownfields Job Training Grant Guidelines.
- Watch the FY2027 Brownfields Job Training Grant Guidelines webinar recording
- Download the Webinar slides on FY2027 Brownfields Job Training Grant guidelines (pdf)
Webinar Q&A (updated 8/17/26)
Q: Will we receive a copy of the slides?
A: The slides were posted on the Fiscal Year 2027 Brownfields Job Training Grants website after the webinar.
Q: Up to $300k for the total for 3 years, correct?
A: The length of proposed project period must not exceed three (3) years). The amount of federal funds requested must not exceed $300,000 in EPA Job Training Grants funds. Applicants may propose completing the grant in less than three years and/or request an amount that is less than $300,000.
Q: Can a non-lead coalition member be a for-profit entity?
A: No, both the applicants and non-lead coalition member(s) must meet the applicant eligibility criteria described in the NOFO. Individuals, for-profit organizations, and nonprofit organizations that are not tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) are ineligible to receive a Brownfields Job Training Grant. Organizations exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(4) of the IRC may be eligible for a Brownfields Job Training Grant if they also qualify as an eligible entity type listed in section 2.A of the NOFO and demonstrate that they do not lobby the Federal government.
Q: Can you please confirm the award start date is July 1, 2027?
A: EPA anticipates notifying successful applicants early in calendar year 2027. Selection does not guarantee award. The award notice, signed by an EPA grants officer, is the authorizing document and will be provided through electronic or postal mail. The successful applicant may need to prepare and submit additional documents and forms, which must be approved by the EPA, before the grant can officially be awarded. The time between notification of selection and award of a grant can take up to 90 days or longer.
Q: Thank you, what start date should we put in the SF424 form?
A: You can put an anticipated start date and it can be modified when the award documents are processed.
Q: Is "No voluntary cost share" an attachment? Should we just state "N/A" as well?
A: It is not an attachment. Voluntary committed cost sharing is when an applicant voluntarily proposes to legally commit to providing costs or contributions to support the project when a cost share is not required. Voluntary cost share will not be accepted under this competition.
Leveraged resources are not the same as voluntary committed cost sharing under 2 CFR § 200.1. Leveraged resources are non-federal funds, services, or in-kind support that complement the project but are not a legally binding commitment and are not part of the EPA assistance agreement budget. They may occur during the period of performance or after the grant ends. Applicants that wish to include leveraged resources should describe them and their sources in the Narrative Criteria Responses. Applicants must not include leveraged resources in the project budget - they are not part of the budget, and the costs do not have to be eligible or allowable. By contrast, voluntary committed cost sharing, which is not permitted under this funding opportunity, is a binding pledge that becomes part of the award budget and must meet all eligibility and allowability requirements.
Q: I know there are an estimated 20 awards total for this round, is it possible to estimate what number or percent of those will be continuing projects? i.e. not new applicants. Can you base it on prior rounds? I'm trying to gauge the competitiveness of this grant. Thanks for any input you can provide!
A: EPA does not set aside a certain amount of funding or number of awards for existing recipients. Applicants are selected for award based on their evaluated point scores, the availability of funds, and the consideration of other factors as listed in the guidelines. We encourage any eligible organization to take advantage of the resources we have for designing a successful program such as the Brownfields Job Training Best Practices Guide and to submit an application.
Q: Is there an application template? It will make it easier so I do the right thing.
A: Yes, EPA just released a NOFO Sample Application Format, which is available here: Sample FY2027 Brownfields Job Training NOFO Application Format. In addition, here are some past successful proposals, posted to the KSU TAB website.
Note, the use of this NOFO Sample Application Format, is optional. Applicants that do not use the NOFO Sample Application Format will not be penalized.
Q: Who is the coordinator for Region 4?
A: The Job Training Coordinator for Region 4 is Olga Perry (Perry.Olga@epa.gov)
Q: Thank you for the info. When will the recording be made available to us?
A: We don't have a release date for the recording yet, but it will be available as soon as possible.
Q: Can we hire trainees as W-2 employees? Can we also count a transitional employment period within our own organization (i.e. hands on activities on sites) as "training" even though it may not be part of an actual OJT eligible training course? What if that transitional employment is not at the $22/hour level that EPA would like to see?
A: On a limited basis, a Job Training Provider may propose hiring the trainees as W-2 employees when trainees will be participating in eligible on-the-job training (OJT) for the majority of the training period. OJT must consist of eligible training courses. Applicants should include the trainees being hired as employees in the budget personnel and fringe line items. Using EPA grant funds to hire trainees as W2 employees is considered participant support costs, which do not count towards instruction or training costs. Job Training Grant funds used to hire trainees as employees, plus any other type of participant support costs, may not exceed 40% of the total amount of the total award. The total amount of participant support costs (including transportation stipends, monetary stipends, and childcare subsidies) may not exceed 40% of the total award. EPA reserves the right to reject any request to pay trainees as employees. See Section D.3 of the NOFO for more information. Please contact your regional coordinator if you need more guidance.
Q: Is South Carolina in Region 4?
A: Yes, it is.