EPA announces Two Tennessee Recipients to Share $2.4 million in Brownfields Grants as part of $18.9 million in Grants to Assess and Clean up Communities Across Southeast Region
WINCHESTER, Tennessee (May 16, 2025) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of 23 recipients across EPA’s Southeast Region, including two in Tennessee, to receive $18,879,113 in Brownfields Grants to assess, clean up and revitalize local lands.
These grants are part of $267 million in Brownfields Grants nationally, announced by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, putting the agency’s commitment to protect human health and the environment into action while remaining good stewards of tax dollars and advancing policies to energize the economy.
In partnership with the Southeast Tennessee Development District and Franklin County, Kevin McOmber, Administrator of EPA’s Southeast Office made the regional announcement Friday in the City of Winchester, where a 40-acre vacant site formerly used as a farmer’s pavilion and fairgrounds will be assessed for redevelopment, potentially as an event space, as part of a Brownfields Grant.
These investments support locally driven redevelopment, unlocking economic opportunity, creating jobs and improving public health outcomes in communities in Region 4, which covers the Southeast. In addition to these new grants, EPA will provide $2,750,000 in supplemental funding to successful Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) recipients in Region 4. These grants will keep critical momentum going in communities already benefiting from Brownfields investments, ensuring continued progress toward safe and reusable land.
“The $267 million in Brownfields Grants will transform contaminated properties into valuable spaces for businesses and housing, creating new opportunities that strengthen local economies and directly benefit American families,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin. “EPA’s Brownfields Program demonstrates how environmental stewardship and economic prosperity complement each other. Under President Trump’s leadership, EPA is Powering the Great American Comeback, ensuring our nation has the cleanest air, land and water while supporting sustainable growth and fiscal responsibility.”
“The first pillar of Administrator Zeldin’s Great American Comeback initiative promises access to clean air, land and water to every American while fostering economic growth. The revitalization of these brownfields is not just about cleaning up land, it’s about improving public health and restoring hope and opportunity in our communities,” said EPA Regional Administrator McOmber. “Together, we can transform these blighted properties into vibrant spaces that foster economic growth and enhance the quality of life for residents across the Southeast.”
“The Southeast Tennessee Development District appreciates EPA’s Brownfields Assessment Grant Award, which represents a transformational investment in the region’s ability to assess brownfield sites,” said Southeast Tennessee Development District Director Sam Saieed. “These sites disproportionately impact economically disadvantaged communities. The Southeast Tennessee Development District believes the assessments and future remediation of these targeted sites in Cleveland, East Ridge, Dalton and other SETDD communities will lead to reinvestment and redevelopment in the region.”
“We are incredibly grateful to EPA for awarding Franklin County the Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant,” said Franklin County Grants Manager Chelle Daniels. “As a rural community with several sites poised for redevelopment, this opportunity comes at a pivotal time. The funding will significantly enhance our ability to assess and revitalize underutilized properties, paving the way for economic growth, job creation and long-term community development. We look forward to the positive impact this will have on the future of Franklin County.”
Brownfields Grants are a powerful catalyst for local economic growth. Communities in Region 4 have used previous EPA grants to assess, clean up and attract new development. In Tennessee, two recipients will share $2.4 million in Brownfield Assessment Grants:
- Franklin County will lead a $1.2 million Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant. Funds will be used to inventory sites and conduct 18 Phase I and 10 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop six cleanup plans, five reuse plans and one area-wide plan, and support community engagement activities. Targeted areas are the cities of Winchester and Cowan and the Town of Huntland.
- The Southeast Tennessee Development District will lead a $1.2 million Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant. Funds will be used to inventory and prioritize sites and conduct 22 Phase I and 25 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to develop 12 cleanup plans and support community engagement activities. Targeted areas are the cities of East Ridge and Cleveland, Tennessee, and the City of Dalton, Georgia.
EPA’s Brownfields Program helps transform underutilized and blighted properties into community assets – empowering neighborhoods, protecting health and sparking lasting economic change.
Learn more about EPA’s Brownfields and Land Revitalization grant opportunities.
Background
EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.9 billion in Brownfields Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. To date, brownfields investments leveraged more than $42 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding was able to leverage, from both public and private sources, more than 220,500 jobs.
View the list of selected applicants here.
For more on Brownfields Grants: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding
For more on EPA’s Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields
EPA anticipates making these awards once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied by selected recipients.
For updates on the EPA’s activities in the Southeast, follow EPA Region 4 on X, Facebook and Instagram.
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