EPA Announces $2 Million in Grants to Assess and Cleanup Communities in Massachusetts
BOSTON (June 24, 2026) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $500,000 in Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup (MAC) grants to accelerate the cleanup of polluted sites across Massachusetts. EPA also provided $1.5 million in supplemental funding to two high-performing Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grantees in Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts:
- Merrimack Valley Planning Commission has been selected to receive $500,000 in supplemental funding for their Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program, in addition to the $4,945,000 in EPA funds already awarded. Projects highlighted for use of the funding include the GLAC Redevelopment in Lawrence, the Brown School in Newburyport, and the Stevens Mill in Haverhill.
- Northern Middlesex Council of Governments has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant to conduct ten Phase I and one Phase II environmental site assessments, and to develop four cleanup plans, two reuse studies, one Community Involvement Plan, one market study, and to support community engagement activities in Concord River Corridor in the City of Lowell, the North Billerica neighborhood in the Town of Billerica, and Railroad Square in the Town of Pepperell.
- City of Worcester has been selected to receive $1 million in supplemental funding for their Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program, in addition to the $11,369,999 in EPA funds already awarded. Projects highlighted for use of the funding include 13 Southgate Place, the St. Vincent Hospital Nurses' Building, and the Slater Building.
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.