Brownfields are abandoned, idled, or underused properties where reuse is complicated by actual or suspected contamination. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has grant money from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) available to pay for assessment of contaminated properties to support redevelopment and reuse. The work is overseen by the MPCA Brownfield Program and performed by MPCA contractors at no cost to the recipients.
Eligibility
Eligible sites in Minnesota can be publicly or privately owned with known or suspected contamination. Applicants cannot be responsible for the contamination. Preferred projects for funding are those that have community support; enhance the neighborhood without resulting in gentrification; provide essential services such as affordable housing, social services, youth enrichment, or green space such as pocket parks; or support small business owners or local job opportunities. Successful applicants are typically those with limited financial resources.
Applicants include, but aren’t limited to:
- community organizations
- nonprofit organizations
- small business owners
- local units of government
- emerging developers (developers who have completed five or fewer projects)
- Tribal Nations
The funding can be used for:
- phase I and phase II environmental site assessments
- sampling and analysis plans/work plans
- preparation of cleanup/response action plans
- community engagement for reuse planning
- MPCA Brownfield Program fees
Ineligible sites and activities. The funding cannot be used for:
- active federal or state Superfund sites
- closed permitted landfills
- abatement of hazardous building materials, radon, or mold
- renovation or expansion of single-family homes. For information on single-family home testing for lead and asbestos, visit the Minnesota Department of Health website.
- cleanup actions
Available funds
Typical funding requests range from $10,000 to 50,000 but any request is considered provided it meets eligibility requirements.
The MPCA has two sources of funding available from the U.S. EPA for environmental assessment of brownfield properties:
- approximately $90,000 per year, made possible by national brownfields legislation enacted in 2002.
- $2 million for 2025 to 2030 from a competitive U.S. EPA Brownfields Assessment grant for States & Tribes.
How to apply
The MPCA Brownfield Program accepts applications on an ongoing basis and makes funding decisions quarterly or as needed based on site circumstances.
Email the completed application to brownfieldgrants.mpca@state.mn.us.
More information
For more information about the benefits of brownfield development, see Brownfields in your community.
For information about the fee-for-service MPCA Voluntary Brownfield Program, see our Brownfield redevelopment guidance webpage