Louisiana
BROWNFIELD RESOURCES
Adding tools to your toolbox
A collection of resources that may be used to support brownfield reuse and revitalization.
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
Targeted Brownfield Assessments
In addition to technical assistance, LDEQ’s Targeted Brownfield Assessment (TBA) Program supports community-based Brownfield projects sponsored by a local governmental entity or nonprofit that require assessment and/or cleanup to facilitate the redevelopment/ reuse. Activities conducted under the TBA are paid for by LDEQ’s Brownfield Program. LDEQ hires environmental contractors to perform environmental assessments or may choose to work directly with a local governmental or nonprofit entity. The applicant is responsible for securing access to the site and providing requested information (such as property history and any relevant environmental reports). LDEQ’s TBA Program is focused on sites that have a good chance of being redeveloped in the near future, fit in with the community’s vision for the area, and will spur further revitalization. Funding for LDEQ’s TBA Program is contingent on funding from EPA for LDEQ’s Brownfields Program and the amount available varies throughout the year. We encourage you to contact LDEQ’s Brownfield Coordinator to see what resources are currently available for your specific site and development timeline.
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
Brownfield Cleanup Loan Program
In May of 2020, EPA awarded LDEQ a Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (BCRLF) grant. This grant will allow LDEQ to reinstate our Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Program to provide loan interest loans that facilitate the cleanup of Brownfield sites throughout the State.
Louisiana Office Of Cultural Development
Division Of Historic Preservation
Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits
If a building is located within a National Register Historic District, is individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and/or is located within a Cultural District. Buildings located within one these areas, the project may be eligible for historic rehabilitation tax incentives.
A Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) is an environmental investigation that documents environmental conditions at a property under consideration for redevelopment or reuse. TBA's are conducted at no cost to communities requesting assistance and may include a phase I site assessment; a phase II site assessment; and/or development of cleanup plans. Contact Althea Foster at 214-665-2268 or foster.althea@epa.gov.
Brownfields Assessment Grants - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Assessment grants provide funding for a grant recipient to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct reuse and/or cleanup planning and community involvement related to areas affected by brownfields. These grants are available to state, local, and tribal governments, quasi-governmental entities, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and regional councils/commission. Applicants may request up to $200,000 for a single site affected by hazardous substances or petroleum contamination, or larger amounts with a waiver request, up to $300,000 for a community-wide grant, or up to $600,000 for a coalition grant. Grant solicitations are issued annually, generally during the fall. Contact: Althea Foster, foster.althea@epa.gov, 214-665-2268
Multipurpose (MP) Grants provide funding to carry out a range of eligible assessment and cleanup activities with a proposed target area, such as a neighborhood, a number of neighboring towns, a district, a corridor, a shared planning area or a census tract. The target area may not include communities that are located in distinctly different geographic areas. The performance period for these grants is five years. An applicant may apply for up to $800,000 that will result in at least: 1 Phase II environmental site assessment; 1 brownfield site cleanup; and, an overall plan for revitalization of one or more brownfields sites, if a plan is not already in place. Multipurpose grants require a non-waivered $40,000 cost share. Contact: Althea Foster, foster.althea@epa.gov, 214-665-2268
Brownfields Cleanup Grants - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cleanup grants provide funding up to $500,000 for a grant recipient to carry out cleanup activities at a single or multiple brownfield site(s). These grants are available to state, local, and tribal governments; quasi-governmental entities, regional councils/commissions, and nonprofits. The applicant must own the site. A 20% cost share is required for these grants. Grant solicitations are issued annually, generally during the fall. Contact: Althea Foster, foster.althea@epa.gov, 214-665-2268
Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grants provide funding for a grant recipient to capitalize a revolving loan fund and to provide subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. When loans are repaid, the loan amount is returned into the fund and re-lent to other borrowers, providing an ongoing source of capital within a community. Eligible applicants include state, local, and tribal governments, quasi-governmental entities, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and regional councils/commission. Up to $1,000,000 is available with a 20% cost share requirement, and at least 60% of the total amount must be used for the RLF. Grant solicitations are issued every-other year, generally during the fall. Contact: Althea Foster, foster.althea@epa.gov, 214-665-2268
Annual Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training grants provide funding to recruit, train, and place predominantly low-income and minority, unemployed and under-employed people living in areas affected by solid and hazardous waste. Nonprofits; local, state, and tribal governments; colleges and universities; and quasi-governmental entities are eligible to apply for up to $200,000. Grant solicitations are issued annually. Contact: Rita Ware, ware.rita@epa.gov, 214-665-6409
Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grants provide funding for a grant recipient to capitalize a revolving loan fund and to provide subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. When loans are repaid, the loan amount is returned into the fund and re-lent to other borrowers, providing an ongoing source of capital within a community. Eligible applicants include state, local, and tribal governments, quasi-governmental entities, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and regional councils/commission. Up to $1,000,000 is available with a 20% cost share requirement, and at least 60% of the total amount must be used for the RLF. Grant solicitations are issued every-other year, generally during the fall. Contact: Althea Foster, foster.althea@epa.gov, 214-665-2268
Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grants provide funding for a grant recipient to capitalize a revolving loan fund and to provide subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. When loans are repaid, the loan amount is returned into the fund and re-lent to other borrowers, providing an ongoing source of capital within a community. Eligible applicants include state, local, and tribal governments, quasi-governmental entities, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and regional councils/commission. Up to $1,000,000 is available with a 20% cost share requirement, and at least 60% of the total amount must be used for the RLF. Grant solicitations are issued every-other year, generally during the fall. Contact: Althea Foster, foster.althea@epa.gov, 214-665-2268
Greening America's Communities is a program to help state capitals develop an implementable vision of environmentally friendly neighborhoods that incorporate innovative green infrastructure strategies. Through the EPA-HUD-DOT Partnership for Sustainable Communities, EPA funds a team of designers to visit each city to produce schematic designs and exciting illustrations intended to catalyze or complement a larger planning process for the pilot neighborhood. Additionally, these pilots are often the testing ground for citywide actions, such as changes to local codes and ordinances to better support sustainable growth and green infrastructure. The design team and EPA, HUD, and DOT staff also assist city staff in developing specific implementation strategies. Contact: Clark Wilson, 202-566-2880, wilson.clark@epa.gov
Partners for Places - Funders' Network (National)
Partners for Places is a matching grant program that creates opportunities for cities and counties to improve communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability offices and place-based foundations. The grant program will provide partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000 for one year projects, or $50,000 and $150,000 for two year projects, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundations. Applications are usually due in late summer. Contact: Ann Wallace, 617-524-9239, ann@fundersnetwork.org for more information.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (National)
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons. The program is authorized under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, Public Law 93-383, as amended 42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq. Contact: Louis Kislin, 602-379-7169, Louis.Kislin@hud.gov
The Choice Neighborhoods program leverages significant public and private dollars to support locally driven strategies that address struggling neighborhoods with distressed public or HUD-assisted housing through a comprehensive approach to neighborhood transformation. Local leaders, residents, and stakeholders, such as public housing authorities, cities, schools, police, business owners, nonprofits, and private developers, come together to create and implement a plan that revitalizes distressed HUD housing and addresses the challenges in the surrounding neighborhood. The program helps communities transform neighborhoods by revitalizing severely distressed public and/or assisted housing and catalyzing critical improvements in the neighborhood, including vacant property, housing, businesses, services and schools. Contact: choiceneighborhoods@hud.gov
Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grants provide funding for a grant recipient to capitalize a revolving loan fund and to provide subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. When loans are repaid, the loan amount is returned into the fund and re-lent to other borrowers, providing an ongoing source of capital within a community. Eligible applicants include state, local, and tribal governments, quasi-governmental entities, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and regional councils/commission. Up to $1,000,000 is available with a 20% cost share requirement, and at least 60% of the total amount must be used for the RLF. Grant solicitations are issued every-other year, generally during the fall. Contact: Althea Foster, foster.althea@epa.gov, 214-665-2268
Through Rural Utilities Service Water and Environmental Programs (WEP), rural communities obtain the technical assistance and financing necessary to develop drinking water and waste disposal systems. Safe drinking water and sanitary waste disposal systems are vital not only to public health, but also to the economic vitality of rural America. Rural Development is a leader in helping rural America improve the quality of life and increase the economic opportunities for rural people. WEP provides funding for the construction of water and waste facilities in rural communities and is proud to be the only Federal program exclusively focused on rural water and waste infrastructure needs of rural communities with populations of 10,000 or less. WEP also provides funding to organizations that provide technical assistance and training to rural communities in relation to their water and waste activities. Contact: https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app
Small and Rural Wastewater Systems Funding Programs - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (National)
EPA and other organizations provide funding to improve water and wastewater systems in small and rural communities, including tribal and U.S. Mexico border communities. Find a list of these water and sanitation programs here.
Business Programs - U.S. Department of Agriculture (National)
Business Programs provide financial backing and technical assistance to stimulate business creation and growth. The programs work through partnerships with public and private community based organizations and financial institutions to provide financial assistance, business development, and technical assistance to rural businesses. These programs help to provide capital, equipment, space, job training, and entrepreneurial skills that can help to start and/or grow a business. Business Programs also support the creation and preservation of quality jobs in rural areas. Contact: https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app
Energy Programs - U.S. Department of Agriculture (National)
Authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014 to offer funding to complete energy audits, provide renewable energy development assistance, make energy efficiency improvements and install renewable energy systems. We have programs that help convert older heating sources to cleaner technologies, produce advanced biofuels, install solar panels, build biorefineries, and much more. USDA Rural Development is at the forefront of renewable energy financing, with options including grants, guaranteed loans and payments. Contact: https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app
RAISE Transportation Discretionary Grant Program - U.S. Department of Transportation (National)
The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE Discretionary Grant program, provides a unique opportunity for the DOT to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve national objectives. Previously known as the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) and Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grants, Congress has dedicated nearly $8.9 billion for twelve rounds of National Infrastructure Investments to fund projects that have a significant local or regional impact. Contact: 202-366-0301, RAISEgrants@dot.gov
Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grant Program - U.S. Department of Transportation (National)
The Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) discretionary grant program will fund transportation projects of national and regional significance that are in line with the Biden Administration's principles for national infrastructure projects that result in good-paying jobs, improve safety, apply transformative technology, and explicitly address climate change and racial equity. USDOT seeks projects that apply innovative technology, delivery, or financing methods with proven outcomes to deliver projects in a cost effective manner. The Department will make awards under the INFRA program to both large and small projects. Contact: 202-366-4544
Surface Transportation Program (STP) - U.S. Department of Transportation (National)
The Surface Transportation Program (STP) (23 U.S.C. 133) is one of the main sources of flexible funding available for transit or highway purposes. STP provides the greatest flexibility in the use of funds. These funds may be used (as capital funding) for public transportation capital improvements, car and vanpool projects, fringe and corridor parking facilities, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and intercity or intracity bus terminals and bus facilities. As funding for planning, these funds can be used for surface transportation planning activities, wetland mitigation, transit research and development, and environmental analysis. Other eligible projects under STP include transit safety improvements and most transportation control measures. Contact: David Bartz, 512-417-5191, david.bartz@dot.gov
Weatherization Assistance Program - U.S. Department of Energy (National)
Collaborates with state and local governments, Indian tribes, and overseas U.S. territories to leverage resources to achieve near-term and measurable reductions in overall energy use, improvements in energy efficiency, growth in renewable energy capacity, and expanded economic opportunities. WIPO provides funding only to state and local governments, overseas U.S. territories, and Indian tribes to support their clean energy programs. WIPO does not provide any funding or assistance of any kind to private companies or individuals. Contact: 202-586-5000