EPA Announces $6.1 Million in Grants to Assess and Cleanup Communities in Indiana
Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $5.6 million in Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup (MAC) grants to accelerate the cleanup of polluted sites across the Indiana. EPA also provided $500,000 in supplemental funding to the Indiana Finance Authority’s high-performing Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). 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 for 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.”
“Brownfields grants empower communities to revitalize sites that have long strained local economies and waste valuable recreation and retail space,” said EPA Regional Administrator Anne Vogel. “Addressing these sites gets rid of dangerous pollution, but it also unlocks economic opportunities, allowing redevelopment and job growth.”
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 Brownfield Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup Grants and RLF supplemental funding in Indiana:
- CDFI Friendly Bloomington was selected for a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant to: conduct 13 Phase I and 10 Phase II environmental site assessments, develop 10 cleanup plans and support community engagement activities. Priority sites include three former furniture manufacturers, an 18.56-acre former bus body factory, and 0.24 acres of former commercial buildings in Mitchell.
- CDFI Friendly Evansville Region Inc. was selected for a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant to: conduct 13 Phase I and an estimated 10-12 Phase II environmental site assessments, develop 10 cleanup plans and support community engagement activities.
- Clay County was selected for a $400,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant to: conduct nine Phase I and seven Phase II environmental site assessments, inventory and prioritize sites, develop two cleanup plans and three reuse plans and support community engagement activities.
- Fort Wayne was selected for a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant to: conduct 11 Phase I and 11 Phase II environmental site assessments, develop eight cleanup plans and support community engagement activities.
- Henry County was selected for a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant to: conduct 11 Phase I and 11 Phase II environmental site assessments, inventory and prioritize sites, create 10 cleanup plans and support community engagement activities.
- Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission was selected for a $700,000 Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant to: conduct 18 Phase I and 12 Phase II environmental site assessments, develop six cleanup plans and support community engagement activities. .
- Lebanon was selected for a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant to: conduct 10 Phase I and 10 Phase II environmental site assessments, develop three cleanup plans and support community engagement activities.
- North Central Indiana Regional Planning Council was selected for a $1.5 million Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant to: conduct 29 Phase I and 31 Phase II environmental site assessments, develop 13 cleanup plans and support community engagement activities.
- River Hills Economic Development District and Regional Planning Commission was selected for a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant to: conduct 12 Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments, develop one cleanup plan and four reuse plans and support community engagement activities.
- Indiana Finance Authority Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund was selected to receive an additional $500,000 for demonstrating high performance with significantly depleted funds.
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 list of all 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.