EPA Announces $11.5 Million in Brownfields Grants to Revitalize Communities in Kentucky
Washington – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $10 million in Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup (MAC) grants to accelerate the cleanup of polluted sites across Kentucky. EPA also provided $1.5 million in supplemental funding to two high-performing Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grantees in Kentucky. 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 go hand-in-hand with economic growth and opportunity.
“EPA is focused on delivering practical results that transform contaminated properties into clean, valuable spaces that spark economic growth and that directly benefit American families,” said Acting Assistant Administrator for Land and Emergency Management Thomas Croci. “Addressing environmental contamination and reusing brownfield properties revitalizes neighborhoods, drives local job creation, and unleashes new economic opportunities. EPA is proud to partner with local communities to ensure they have the cleanest air, land, and water as we power the Great American Comeback.”
“These brownfield grants represent opportunities to reimagine contaminated properties as assets that meet the needs of communities,” said Regional Administrator Kevin McOmber. “When you take a blighted property, clean it up, and bring the community together to figure out how the property should be redeveloped, you can generate a lot of excitement.”
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 and RLF supplemental funding in Kentucky include:
A $1.5 million Assessment Grant to the Bluegrass Area Development District to conduct 30 Phase I and 21 Phase II environmental site assessments.
A $4 million Cleanup Grant for the Bourbon County to clean up the Revive Riverside Park Project site in City of Paris.
A $1 million RLF Supplemental Grant to Kentucky Energy and Environment for its high-performing RLFEPA previously awarded the RLF $2.3 million.
A $500,000 RLF Supplemental Grant to Louisville Metro Government for its high-performing RLF.EPA previously awarded the RLF $4.8 million.
A $500,000 Assessment Grant to the Northern Kentucky Area Development District Community-wide grant funds to conduct 19 Phase I and eight Phase II environmental site assessments.
A $4 million Cleanup Grant for the Waterfront Botanical Gardens to clean up Parcel B of the Waterfront Botanical Gardens in City of Louisville.
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 list of selected applicants here.
Background
Since its launch in 1995, EPA’s Brownfields Program has funded the assessment, cleanup, and revitalization of contaminated properties. Distributing this latest round of awards will push the program's total historical funding past $3 billion. 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, cleanup, and revolving loan fund 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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