EPA Announces $2 Million in Brownfields Grants to Boost Puerto Rico Economy, Clean Up Communities
NEW YORK (June 24, 2026) - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $2 Million in Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup (MAC) grants to accelerate the cleanup of polluted sites across Puerto Rico. With these funds, EPA is investing directly in American communities to cleanup and redevelop blighted properties, delivering on the Trump Administration’s commitment to ensure that clean air, land, and water for goes hand-in-hand with economic growth and opportunity.
"These grants show EPA’s commitment to helping Puerto Rico communities turn environmental challenges into economic opportunities,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “By investing in brownfields cleanup, we’re paving the way for healthier neighborhoods and new jobs across the island."
“I thank Regional Administrator Martucci, the EPA, and the Trump Administration for continuing to support Puerto Rico’s efforts to revitalize communities and advance economic development,” said Governor Jenniffer González-Colón. “Brownfields investments help transform underutilized and contaminated properties into assets that can attract private investment, create jobs, improve public health, and enhance the quality of life for our residents. These grants provide municipalities and local organizations with additional tools to advance redevelopment efforts and demonstrate what can be accomplished through strong collaboration between Puerto Rico and our federal partners.”
Clean air, land, and water for all Americans is the first pillar of President Trump and Administrator Zeldin’s Powering the Great American Comeback initiative. These grants put that commitment into action while simultaneously powering economic growth in communities across the country. Selected applications for the 2026 Brownfield Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup Grants funding in Puerto Rico include the following communities:
The Municipality of Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico has been selected to receive $500,000 to assess sites across Juana Diaz and support reuse planning and community engagement. Priority sites include a vacant public school, former industrial property, and abandoned gas station.
The Municipality of Maunabo, Puerto Rico has been selected to receive $500,000 to assess and prioritize sites in Maunabo’s urban center, such as a vacant commercial facility, former juice factory, and auto services property. Additionally, the grant supports cleanup plans and community engagement.
The Municipality of San Germán, Puerto Rico has been selected to receive $500,000 to assess sites in San Germán’s urban center, including a textile and electronics facility, abandoned hospital, and electronics plant. Additionally, the grant supports cleanup plans, design charrette, and community engagement.
The Municipality of San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico has been selected to received $500,000 to assess sites in San Lorenzo’s urban center, including an abandoned industrial facility and former bars and restaurants. Additionally, the grant supports cleanup plans, design charrette, and community engagement.
Grant recipients with viable cleanup projects ready for work will help communities continue their work to carry out cleanup and redevelopment projects on contaminated brownfield properties.
View the complete list of selected applicants here
EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and, once these grants are awarded, will have provided over $3 billion in grant funding to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. To date, brownfields investments leveraged more than $45 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 228,900 jobs. Through fiscal year 2025, on average, $19.47 was leveraged for each EPA Brownfields Grant dollar awarded through multipurpose, assessment, revolving loan fund and cleanup cooperative agreements.
EPA anticipates that it will make these awards once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied by selected applicants.
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