EPA Announces $14.5 Million in Grants to Assess and Cleanup Communities in Maine
BOSTON (June 24, 2026) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $9.5 million in Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) grants to accelerate the cleanup of polluted sites across Maine. EPA also provided $5 million in supplemental funding to six high-performing Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grantees in Maine. With these funds, EPA is investing directly in American communities to cleanup and redevelop blighted properties, delivering on the Trump Administration's commitment to ensure that clean air, land, and water goes hand-in-hand with economic growth and opportunity.
"EPA is focused on delivering practical results that transform contaminated properties into clean, valuable spaces that spark economic growth and that directly benefit American families," said Acting Assistant Administrator for Land and Emergency Management Thomas Croci. "Addressing environmental contamination and reusing brownfield properties revitalizes neighborhoods, drives local job creation, and unleashes new economic opportunities. EPA is proud to partner with local communities to ensure they have the cleanest air, land, and water as we power the Great American Comeback."
"Across New England, EPA is helping to transform blighted properties into productive spaces that protect human health and support economic growth and opportunity," said EPA Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn. "This funding will help communities assess and clean up contaminated sites, so they can be safely redeveloped for housing, businesses, recreation, and other community priorities."
Clean air, land, and water for all Americans is the first pillar of President Trump and Administrator Zeldin's Powering the Great American Comeback initiative. These grants put that commitment into action while simultaneously powering economic growth in communities across the country.
Below are the selected applications for the 2026 Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup Grants and RLF supplemental funding in Maine:
- City of Augusta has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant to develop eight cleanup plans and support community engagement activities. Priority sites include a 57,000-square-foot vacant and dilapidated former textile manufacturing facility and a 6.2-acre former recycling site in the Water Street/Mount Vernon Avenue corridor.
- City of Caribou has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant to conduct 16 Phase I and ten Phase II environmental site assessments, and to develop up to eight cleanup plans and support community engagement activities for neglected and blighted properties located along the Caribou Stream and Aroostook River Corridors.
- Town of East Millinocket has been selected to receive $4 million for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant to clean up the Western and Eastern Main Mill Areas-South, at the Former Great Northern Paper Mill property located at 50 Main Street.
- Greater Portland Council of Governments has been selected to receive $1 million in supplemental funding for their Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program, in addition to the $8,200,000 in EPA funds already awarded. Projects highlighted for use of the funding include a former retail/commercial property at 578 Route One in Scarborough, an underutilized office/administrative building at 307 Cumberland Avenue, and an underutilized housing property at 42 Mellen Street in Portland.
- Kennebec Valley Council of Governments has been selected to receive $500,000 in supplemental funding for their Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program, in addition to the $2,260,000 in EPA funds already awarded. Projects highlighted for use of the funding include Cascade Mill in Oakland and the Pittsfield Community Theater in Pittsfield.
- Maine Department of Economic and Community Development has been selected to receive $1 million in supplemental funding for their Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program, in addition to the $17,024,983 in EPA funds already awarded. Projects highlighted for use of the funding include the Caribou Power Plant in Caribou, Steamship Navigation in Warren, and Beals Linen in Auburn.
- Our Katahdin has been selected to receive $4 million for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant to clean up the Paper Machine 11 Buildings at the former Great Northern Paper Company located at 1 Katahdin Avenue in Millinocket.
- City of Portland has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant to conduct ten Phase I and seven Phase II environmental site assessments, and to develop four cleanup plans and one reuse study, and support community engagement activities in Portland's Bayside neighborhood.
- City of Portland has also been selected to receive $1 million in supplemental funding for their Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program, in addition to the $7,635,849 in EPA funds already awarded. Projects highlighted for use of the funding include the Time and Temperature Building, the COMB Block, and the Avesta Housing First site.
- City of South Portland has been selected to receive $500,000 in supplemental funding for their Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program, in addition to the $1,000,000 in EPA funds already awarded. Projects highlighted for use of the funding include Alpha One, REO Marine, and Pizza Joint/Spurling Fitness.
- Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission has been selected to receive $1 million in supplemental funding for their Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program, in addition to the $19,970,000 in EPA funds already awarded. Projects highlighted for use of the funding include the International Woolen Mill Boiler House in Sanford, and the Brownfield Community Center in the Town of Brownfield.
Grant recipients with viable cleanup projects ready for work will help communities continue their work to carry out cleanup and redevelopment projects on contaminated brownfield properties.
View the full list of selected applicants here.
Background
EPA's Brownfields Program began in 1995 and, once these grants are awarded, will have provided over $3 billion in grant funding to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. To date, brownfields investments leveraged more than $45 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding was able to leverage, from both public and private sources, more than 228,900 jobs. Through fiscal year 2025, on average, $19.47 was leveraged for each EPA Brownfields Grant dollar awarded through multipurpose, assessment, revolving loan fund and cleanup cooperative agreements.
After selection, awards will be made once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied by selected applicants.