EPA Brownfield Grant Resources
What is a Brownfield?
A “brownfield” is a property that has, or may be perceived to have, environmental impacts. The potential presence of hazardous substances, petroleum, or presence of regulated building materials may impede reuse/redevelopment opportunities. By completing environmental site assessment and cleanup activities, it is possible to transform brownfields from liabilities into assets that will benefit the community.
What are the benefits of brownfield redevelopment?
Property owners, business owners, and developers who cleanup and reuse brownfields provide benefits to themselves and their community, including:
- Removing unknowns regarding site conditions that might hold up a future sale, financing agreement and/or redevelopment project.
- Increasing return from the property by making it more valuable and marketable.
- Contributing to economic prosperity and environmental restoration in the community.
- Making neighborhoods safer and healthier.
- Avoiding actions by regulatory agencies that may impose penalties and costly cleanups.
- Reducing potential impacts from and to adjacent properties.
How can you use grant funding for your property?
Funding is available to parties interested in completing environmental site assessments (ESAs) and regulated building material (RBM) surveys and/or developing site cleanup/reuse plans in support of property sale or redevelopment. Property owners, business owners, and developers are encouraged to take advantage of this funding opportunity that will further economic development initiatives, protect public health, and restore the environment!
Brownfields Multipurpose Grant
In 2021 Cañon City was awarded a $800,000 Brownfield Multipurpose grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to transform underutilized properties and those that have, or may be perceived to have hazardous substances, petroleum, or presence of regulated building materials (also known as “brownfields) from liabilities into assets that revitalize our communities and bring our neighborhoods back to life.
The grant is managed by Cañon City with assistance from an environmental consulting team led by Stantec Consulting Services Inc. (Stantec). It has been used to create the Cañon City Property Reuse and Revitalization Program. Funding for the program is available on a first-come, first-served basis until September 30, 2026 or until all funds are used.
Contact
For more information on brownfields and the Cañon City Reuse and Revitalization Program contact:
Rick Harrmann, Economic Development Manager
phone: (719) 429-8132
email: rlharrmann@canoncity.org