FY 2026 Brownfields Job Training Grants
Return to Brownfields Job Training Grants.
EPA-I-OLEM-OBLR-25-01 - Closes on September 26, 2025
This notice announced the availability of funds and solicited applications from eligible entities, including nonprofit organizations, to deliver Brownfields Job Training programs that recruit, train and place local, unemployed and under-employed residents with the skills needed to secure full-time employment in the environmental field. This includes areas such as sustainable remediation, chemical safety and site preparation for the revitalization of brownfields. To see the impact of these programs, check out this success story: Brownfields Job Training Program Success Story.
- Opportunity Notice at Grants.gov
- Fiscal Year 2026 Brownfields Job Training Grant Guidelines (pdf)
- Fiscal Year 2026 Brownfields Job Training Guidelines Summary of Changes (pdf)
- Frequently Asked Questions About Brownfields Job Training (JT) Grants
- Interested in Applying for Brownfields Job Training Funding?
- List of Eligible and Ineligible Brownfield Job Training Courses
- How to Register and Apply for Grants
- How to submit an application through Grants.gov
- EPA-Recommended Mapping Tools
- Brownfields Job Training Coalitions Memorandum of Agreement (pdf)
Grant Guideline Outreach Webinar
EPA help a public outreach webinar about EPA's FY 2026 Brownfields Job Training (JT) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on Thursday, July 24th, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET / 10:00AM PT. This webinar supports applicants with understanding the NOFO for the FY 2026 Brownfields Job Training Grant Guidelines.
- FY 2026 Brownfields Job Training NOFO Outreach Webinar Presentation (pdf)
- Presentación del Seminario Web de Difusión de la NOFO de Capacitación Laboral para Áreas Contaminadas del Año Fiscal 2026 (pdf)
FY 2026 JT NOFO Outreach Webinar Q&A Transcript
Question: Will the slides be shared after the presentation?
Answer: The slides are available at this link under the outreach webinar section: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/fy-2026-brownfields-job-training-grants
Question: We receive federal funding for our training program, we would be pursuing this as an enhancement to our current curriculum, is that acceptable?
Answer: This may be acceptable as long as it does not duplicate other federally funded projects, which is discussed in the threshold Criterion of the NOFO. As stated in the NOFO, if you have another federally funded job training program, you should describe how the proposed project will complement, but not duplicate, the existing federal environmental job training activities (i.e., different target audience, such as a different age group, differing types of certification training).
Question: Would existing college students be considered underemployed? In this scenario, a university is interested in implementing a job training program to benefit both existing students and local residents.
Answer: College students would be eligible for this training. You can talk to your regional coordinator to further describe the situation. https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-job-training-program-contacts
Question: What is the minimum wage threshold that defines a person as under-employed?
Answer: As defined in the NOFO, underemployment is the condition in which people in a labor force are employed less than full-time or at jobs inconsistent with respect to their experience, training, or economic needs.
Question: Is the coalition grant also up to $500,000?
Answer: Yes, that is correct.
Question: How many applications were submitted in the last round?
Answer: We received about 20 eligible applications in FY25.
Question: Did you just say EPA provides the training courses?
Answer: No, the training is provided by the grant recipient. The grant recipient proposes what their training curriculum will be, but all courses using Brownfields Job Training Grant funds must have a direct connection to facilitating the inventory of brownfield sites, site assessments, remediation of brownfield sites, community involvement, or site preparation.
Question: Can the participant's criminal background history be a barrier to this training and employment opportunity?
Answer: Yes, that can be a barrier depending on the requirements of prospective employers. There are a number of existing grantees that provide training to individuals with a criminal background.
Question: Can you define direct and indirect costs related to the budget
Answer: Direct costs are those costs that can be identified specifically with a particular final cost objective, such as a Federal award, or other internally or externally funded activity, or that can be directly assigned to such activities relatively easily with a high degree of accuracy. Examples of direct costs include those associated with personnel, travel and contractual costs.
Indirect costs are those costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective and not readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefitted, without effort disproportionate to the results achieved. More information on direct and indirect costs can be found in 2 CFR Part 200.
Question: Also how are these costs different from Admin costs and the 5% limit?
Answer: Please see H.3. and H.5 of the FY26 JT FAQ’s for the answer to this question, available at https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/frequently-asked-questions-about-brownfields-job-training-jt-grants
Question: What are examples of employment support services (to provide for 1 year)?
Answer: Here are some examples of employment support services: career counseling and guidance; resume and interview workshops; job placement assistance, such as networking opportunities with local environmental organizations and companies and direct job placement services to connect participants with potential employers in the field; professional development and mentorship; follow-up and retention services, such as regular follow-ups to help participants maintain employment and address any challenges they may face in their job roles.
You can also find more information in the Brownfields Job Training Best Practices Guide.
Question: Are we required to have partnerships?
Answer: Applications will be evaluated on the extent to which the applicant has collaborated with employers or unions committed to enhancing student learning and organizations that provide students with job-readiness skills. Collaborating with employers, job-readiness/life skills organizations, community organizations and environmental entities can significantly enhance the effectiveness and reach of a job training program. Ultimately, partnerships can strengthen your proposal by demonstrating a collaborative approach to addressing local environmental and employment needs, making your application more competitive.
Question: Can a proposed target area overlap with multiple regions that border each other?
Answer: Yes, a proposed target area for the Brownfields Job Training Program can overlap with multiple regions that border each other. When defining your target area, it's essential to clearly articulate how the various regions are connected and justify their inclusion based on factors such as shared environmental challenges or socioeconomic conditions.
Question: Our district needs Brownfield Remediation Job Training services. How best can our organization target potential partners.
Answer: Please see resources available on EPA’s website including: the Brownfields Grant Factsheet tool, to search for organizations in your area that have received Brownfields funding; the Brownfields Job Training Best Practices Guide; and more on the Brownfields Job Training Grants Technical Assistance Resources page.