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Updates from Washington Brownfields

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Brownfield funding & assistance opportunities

Mitigate urban heat islands: Submit letter of interest by December 12   

EPA is accepting letters of interest from new or existing partnerships between a local, county, or tribal government and a neighborhood or community group to receive technical assistance through their Building Blocks program. This assistance will help communities mitigate heat islands in disproportionately affected neighborhoods. Heat islands are those miserably hot areas where structures are highly concentrated, greenery is limited, and temperatures are relatively higher than outlying areas.

Building Blocks isn't a grant program; it's quick and targeted technical assistance from EPA contractors. Their team helps communities develop "smart growth" strategies like increasing tree covers, installing green or reflective roofs, and installing cooler pavements.

Selected communities will receive targeted facilitation and coaching from subject matter experts; a connection with local, regional, state, and federal partners; and the convening of a 1.5-day in-person workshop to bring together residents and other partners. 

Letters of interest due by 2 p.m. Pacific on Thursday, Dec. 12. Learn more.

Ecology's Public Participation Grants: Register for December 10 orientation

Individuals and nonprofit organizations in Washington can apply for up to $60K in grant funding from Ecology for two types of projects: those that engage the public in contaminated site cleanups, and those that improve waste management practices. 

• Register for orientation via Zoom | Tuesday, Dec. 10 | 10 a.m. Pacific.
• Applications will be accepted starting Tuesday, Jan. 7.
• Learn more.

Turn your EJ plan into reality: Apply by December 15

Rural and urban organizations in EPA Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and 271 Tribal Nations) can apply for funding through Philanthropy Northwest to develop and implement environmental justice plans. 

Applications now being accepted for Type 3 Project Development grants up to $350,000. Organizations can apply if they 1) already have a strong understanding of their local environmental and/or public health issues, 2) already have formulated a community-wide plan to address them, and 3) are ready to develop and implement technical aspects of the project.

Interested in applying for a Type 3 grant? You might set up a portal profile now instead of waiting until the Dec. 15 deadline; we noticed it could take 2 days to verify your account. 

• Download request for applications.
• Apply by Sunday Dec. 15 through Philanthropy Northwest's portal.  
• Learn more including Type 1 and Type 2 grants that may be available later.

Heating oil tank funds available: Apply by December 15

If you have a heating oil tank and are a Washington property owner (or have written consent from the owner) consider applying for funds from the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (PLIA). Their Heating Oil and Loan Grant Program provides up to $75,000 to collect data and clean up releases; or upgrade, replace, or remove heating oil tank systems; or replace existing systems by installing new infrastructure. You'll need a Secure Access Washington account to apply. Applications due Sunday, Dec. 15. Learn more.  

Additional resources

CCLR webinar: Effective site cleanup on December 11

Register for From Nature to Nurture, a webinar exploring nature-based solutions (NBS) to contaminated site remediation such as mycoremediation and Endophyte Assisted Phytoremediation that harnesses fungi, bacteria, and plants to help you do the work. Produced by the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR), an EPA technical assistance provider. 

• Register for webinar | Wednesday, Dec. 11 | 2–3:15 p.m. Pacific

NJIT webinar: Minimizing displacement on December 12

A panel discussion, resources, and success stories are featured in the webinar, Preserving communities: Brownfield redevelopment to minimize displacement and uplift legacy residents. Produced by New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), an EPA technical assistance provider.

• Register for webinar | Thursday, Dec. 12 | 10 a.m. Pacific

CCLR recorded webinar: Community outreach and EJ 

Watch for the recording of Game Changers, a webinar designed to help communities develop outreach plans. Co-produced by the Center for Creative Land Recycling and the Center for Community Energy and Environmental Justice (CCEEJ). 

Washington Brownfield Workshops 2024

Terrific hosts and engaged participants at Washington Brownfield Workshops 2024 Several hosts and community leaders welcomed guests to one-day brownfield workshops in Richland, North Bend, and Bremerton this past September, sparking inspiration for other communities considering redevelopments, too.  "Cleaning up a brownfield and making it safe for redevelopment is less scary when you can  meet people who have already taken that step," said Ecology Brownfields Lead Ali Furmall. "It becomes even easier when you can see evidence of their success." After warm welcomes from our hosts, each workshop launched with "Brownfields 101" followed by a brisk hike through mountains of resources from EPA, Ecology, Commerce, and CCLR. Washington's cleanup process came to life with local case studies by Ecology site managers with examples of how community feedback shaped the end result. Community leaders and project managers shared frank stories about their roadblocks in panel sessions facilitated by CCLR's Joelle Greenland and celebrated planned and completed redevelopments. Even the breaks offered opportunities to connect. "It was terrific seeing people new to brownfields talking with those who have already completed several projects," said Ali. "It helps them realize it's not only possible to make properties like old gas stations safe to redevelop, but there's an entire brownfields team to help. In fact, when you reach out to any of us, you'll connect with all of us." Outstanding participants, partners, and hosts Our deepest thanks to the participants who brought their questions and curiosity, and to the brownfield partners and presenters who made these events possible. The team would especially like to thank our hosts and community leaders:   Amanda (Mandy) Wallner, Economic Development Manager, City of Richland Michelle Holt, Executive Director, Benton-Franklin Council of Governments James Henderson, Economic Development Manager, City of North Bend Mary Miller, Mayor, City of North Bend Jessica Self, North Bend Downtown Foundation Alison Roberts, Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank James Weaver, Director of Marine Facilities, Port of Bremerton Greg Wheeler, Mayor, City of Bremerton A unique perspective... In addition to exceptional support from the CCLR team, we were fortunate for on-the-ground assistance from CCLR's Antonia Bassett who designed event graphics and photographed the walking tours. Check out her story in Leveling up on brownfield knowledge at the Washington Brownfield Workshops, then download session materials from Ecology's and CCLR's webpages. Interested in hosting a workshop in 2025? Contact Ali Furmall, Brownfields Program Lead.

Call for ideas open for National Brownfields Conference

Session proposals are now being accepted for EPA's 2025 Brownfields Training Conference in Chicago, August 5–8. You'll have seven tracks to choose from such as housing and displacement; climate change and resiliency; and environmental justice, public participation, and outreach. What track catches your imagination? Submit proposals by 8:59 p.m. Pacific on Friday, Dec. 20.

Contact us if you have a brownfield project!

In case you missed it: October newsletter | EPA grant issue (Oct. 31)

Brownfields in Washington

Our Brownfields Program helps communities put those properties back into use so they can bring their redevelopment visions to life.

Why redevelop brownfields?

Redeveloping brownfields improves
public health by cleaning up contamination, turns former blight into new opportunity, saves undisturbed land from development, and more.