Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA OSWER OBLR 15 05
Apply for EPA OSWER OBLR 15 05
- The EPA in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY16 Guidelines for Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.818.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 20, 2015 and posted on Oct 20, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 18, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The FY16 Guidelines for Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding opportunity created under the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (P.L. 107-118). The broader purpose of this law and the EPA Brownfields Program is to help states, local communities, tribes, and eligible nonprofits tackle properties where redevelopment or reuse is complicated by real or perceived contamination. In practical terms, the program is meant to move sites from vacancy or underuse toward cleanup and productive reuse, while also supporting local planning and community involvement around those sites.
This specific announcement focuses only on the Revolving Loan Fund portion of EPA brownfields funding. EPA notes that its brownfields funding is typically organized into three main grant types: Assessment Grants (to inventory sites, perform environmental assessments, and conduct related planning and community engagement), Cleanup Grants (to clean up a specific site owned by the applicant), and Revolving Loan Fund Grants (to finance cleanup through loans and subgrants). Under these FY16 guidelines, EPA is only seeking proposals for RLF Grants, not Assessment or Cleanup Grants. Applicants who want Assessment or Cleanup funding are directed to separate announcements (EPA-OSWER-OBLR-15-04 for Assessment and EPA-OSWER-OBLR-15-06 for Cleanup) posted on Grants.gov and EPA's brownfields application pages.
The central idea of an RLF Grant is that EPA awards funding to an eligible recipient so that recipient can capitalize a revolving loan fund. The recipient then uses that fund to make loans and provide subgrants that pay for cleanup activities at eligible brownfield sites. Because it is a revolving fund, repayments from loans can be returned to the fund and reused for additional cleanup projects over time, allowing the initial federal investment to support multiple cleanups rather than a single one. The cleanups supported through these loans and subgrants are aimed at enabling redevelopment, reinvestment, and community revitalization once contamination issues are addressed.
Administratively, the opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning EPA anticipates substantial involvement or oversight consistent with cooperative agreement structures rather than a more hands-off formula grant. The program is listed under CFDA number 66.818, and it falls within the environment funding activity category. The opportunity number is EPA-OSWER-OBLR-15-05, and the posting and creation date for the announcement is October 20, 2015.
In terms of funding scale and competition, the announcement lists an award ceiling of $1,000,000 per award and anticipates making about 12 awards. The application deadline shown is December 18, 2015 (both the original and current closing date). Eligibility is summarized broadly as "Others" with additional details referenced in the full eligibility section of the announcement, which typically clarifies the specific types of governmental entities, tribes, and nonprofits that can apply under EPA brownfields rules.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a financing and program-building grant rather than a grant for a single site. The applicant is expected to set up or expand a local or regional cleanup financing mechanism and then deploy that capital through loans and subgrants to get multiple brownfield cleanups moving, with the longer-term goal of sustained reinvestment as funds revolve and projects transition from cleanup to reuse.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants (FY16 Guidelines)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) FY16 Guidelines for Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants. It is a federal funding opportunity under the EPA Brownfields Program, created under the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (P.L. 107-118).
2) What is the purpose of the EPA Brownfields Program described here?
The purpose is to help states, local communities, tribes, and eligible nonprofits address properties where redevelopment or reuse is complicated by real or perceived contamination. The program is intended to help move sites from vacancy or underuse toward cleanup and productive reuse, while supporting local planning and community involvement around those sites.
3) Which type of EPA brownfields funding does this announcement cover?
This announcement focuses only on the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) portion of EPA brownfields funding. It does not solicit proposals for Assessment Grants or Cleanup Grants under these FY16 guidelines.
4) What are the three main EPA brownfields grant types mentioned, and how is RLF different?
EPA notes three main brownfields grant types:
- Assessment Grants: to inventory sites, perform environmental assessments, and conduct related planning and community engagement.
- Cleanup Grants: to clean up a specific site owned by the applicant.
- Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants: to finance cleanup through loans and subgrants.
RLF differs because it is designed to capitalize a local or regional fund that can support multiple cleanups over time through loans and subgrants, rather than funding a single site directly.
5) If an applicant wants Assessment or Cleanup funding, where should they apply?
Applicants seeking Assessment or Cleanup funding are directed to separate announcements posted on Grants.gov and EPA brownfields application pages:
- Assessment: EPA-OSWER-OBLR-15-04
- Cleanup: EPA-OSWER-OBLR-15-06
6) What is the central concept of an RLF Grant?
EPA awards funding to an eligible recipient so the recipient can capitalize a revolving loan fund. The recipient then uses that fund to make loans and provide subgrants that pay for cleanup activities at eligible brownfield sites.
7) Why is it called a "revolving" loan fund?
It is called "revolving" because loan repayments can be returned to the fund and reused for additional cleanup projects over time. This allows the initial federal investment to support multiple cleanups rather than only one.
8) What kinds of activities does the RLF financing support?
Based on the description provided, the RLF is used to pay for cleanup activities at eligible brownfield sites using loans and subgrants. The goal of these cleanups is to enable redevelopment, reinvestment, and community revitalization once contamination issues are addressed.
9) Is this grant intended for cleaning up one specific site?
No. This opportunity is best understood as a financing and program-building grant rather than a grant for a single site. The applicant is expected to set up or expand a cleanup financing mechanism and deploy capital through loans and subgrants for multiple brownfield cleanups.
10) What award instrument will EPA use for this opportunity?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning EPA anticipates substantial involvement or oversight consistent with cooperative agreement structures.
11) What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA number 66.818.
12) What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is EPA-OSWER-OBLR-15-05.
13) When was this opportunity posted/created?
The posting and creation date listed for the announcement is October 20, 2015.
14) What is the application deadline?
The application deadline shown is December 18, 2015 (both the original and current closing date).
15) What is the maximum funding amount per award?
The announcement lists an award ceiling of $1,000,000 per award.
16) How many awards does EPA anticipate making?
The announcement anticipates making about 12 awards.
17) Who is eligible to apply (based on the summary provided)?
Eligibility is summarized broadly as "Others", with additional details referenced in the full eligibility section of the announcement. The description indicates the broader EPA Brownfields Program is intended to help states, local communities, tribes, and eligible nonprofits, and that the full announcement typically clarifies which entities can apply under EPA brownfields rules.
18) What funding activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity falls within the environment funding activity category.
19) What outcomes is EPA aiming for through RLF-funded cleanups?
The stated aim is to support cleanup that enables redevelopment, reinvestment, and community revitalization, moving sites from vacancy or underuse toward productive reuse, while supporting local planning and community involvement related to those sites.
20) What is the long-term role of the revolving fund after the initial EPA award?
The longer-term goal is sustained reinvestment as funds revolve: loan repayments return to the fund, the capital can be reused for additional cleanups, and projects transition from cleanup to reuse over time.
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: EPA
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Environment
Next opportunity: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Natural History and Prevention of Viral Hepatitis among Alaska Natives Project.
Previous opportunity: FY 2016 Request for Proposals from Indian Tribes and Intertribal Consortia for Nonpoint Source Management Grants Under Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for EPA OSWER OBLR 15 05
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (EPA OSWER OBLR 15 05) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| CTLWSP Recovery At D Street Nesting Site Apply for F16AS00031 Funding Number: F16AS00031 Agency: DOI-FWS Category: Environment Funding Amount: $100,187 |
| Chesapeake Bay Program Office Fiscal Year 2015 Request for Proposals for Chesapeake Bay Program Committees Support Apply for EPA R3 CBP 15 07 Funding Number: EPA R3 CBP 15 07 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $5,520,000 |
| TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BROWNFIELDS COMMUNITIES Apply for EPA OSWER OBLR 16 02 Funding Number: EPA OSWER OBLR 16 02 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Desert Tortoise Monitoring Apply for F16AS00033 Funding Number: F16AS00033 Agency: DOI-FWS Category: Environment Funding Amount: $16,700 |
| Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage in the Leading Creek Watershed to Improve Water Quality Apply for F16AS00049 Funding Number: F16AS00049 Agency: DOI-FWS Category: Environment Funding Amount: $46,563 |
| CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTION - TRIBAL LIAISON Apply for BIA CLIMATE 16 0001 Funding Number: BIA CLIMATE 16 0001 Agency: DOI-BIA Category: Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance Apply for F16AS00034 Funding Number: F16AS00034 Agency: DOI-FWS Category: Environment Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| FY 2015 Support for Water Quality Framework Training Workshop, Nonpoint Source Agriculture Training and Technical Assistance, and Hypoxia and Agricultural Nutrient Outreach and Technical Assistance Request for Proposals Apply for EPA OW OWOW 15 04 Funding Number: EPA OW OWOW 15 04 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Southeast New England Program for Coastal Watershed Restoration Apply for EPA R1 SNEP 2016 Funding Number: EPA R1 SNEP 2016 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Puget Sound Action Agenda – Tribal Implementation Lead Apply for EPA R10 PS 2015 002 Funding Number: EPA R10 PS 2015 002 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $25,000,000 |
| Chesapeake Bay Program Office Fiscal Year 2016 Request for Proposals for Chesapeake Bay Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Aerial Survey Apply for EPA R3 CBP 16 01 Funding Number: EPA R3 CBP 16 01 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $2,400,000 |
| FY 2016 Support of the Five Star Restoration Training Grant Apply for EPA OW OWOW 15 03 Funding Number: EPA OW OWOW 15 03 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $1,100,000 |
| FY 2015 Environmental Studies Program AK CMI Apply for M16AS00001 Funding Number: M16AS00001 Agency: DOI-MMS Category: Environment Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| FY16 Guidelines for Brownfields Cleanup Grants Apply for EPA OSWER OBLR 15 06 Funding Number: EPA OSWER OBLR 15 06 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Lower Colorado Region – All Areas – for Water Conservation Field Services Program (WCFSP) Grants for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Apply for BOR LC 16 001 Funding Number: BOR LC 16 001 Agency: DOI-BOR Category: Environment Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Mojave Shoulderband Snail Field Assessment Apply for F16AS00062 Funding Number: F16AS00062 Agency: DOI-FWS Category: Environment Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Kokee AFS Seabird Monitoring Apply for NWO CESU 03 Funding Number: NWO CESU 03 Agency: DOD-COE-OM Category: Environment Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Avon Park Wildlife Biology Apply for NWO CESU 04 Funding Number: NWO CESU 04 Agency: DOD-COE-OM Category: Environment Funding Amount: $85,000 |
| Coral Reef Initiative Program Apply for CRI 2016 Funding Number: CRI 2016 Agency: DOI Category: Environment Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Conservation Crew for EPMT at Denali National Park Apply for NPS DOIP16AC00080 Funding Number: NPS DOIP16AC00080 Agency: DOI-NPS Category: Environment Funding Amount: $27,180 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "EPA OSWER OBLR 15 05", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.