Regional Brownfields Program
What are Brownfields?
Brownfields are underutilized properties which are difficult to redevelop due to the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants. As a former manufacturing hub, the Greater Hartford region contains many such sites, including historic factories, agricultural land, former dry cleaners, former gas stations, and other stagnant properties. While there are more than half a million identified Brownfield sites in the U.S., the numbers are likely much higher.
RLF Funding Available — Request for Applications
The Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Program provides loans and subgrants to facilitate cleanup of contaminated properties in Connecticut. The purpose of the RLF program is to assist with the revitalization of properties to strengthen the economy, improve public health, support transit-oriented development (TOD), create jobs, and build mixed-income housing.
Awarded loans and subgrants will fill funding gaps needed for the successful cleanup and redevelopment of Brownfields. CRCOG’s RLF Program will prioritize projects located within CRCOG’s 38 Member Municipalities, but Loan applications will also be accepted for projects located within other Connecticut Councils of Government (COGs) that do not have their own brownfields program. Loan funds may be available to local governments, private sector and nonprofit sector entities. Subgrants are available to eligible local governments. The subgrants and/or loans through this program are to be disbursed on a reimbursable basis. All Applicants must comply with the eligibility requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
CRCOG will accept applications on a rolling basis until funds are fully obligated. Applications will be reviewed quarterly starting on February 2, 2026.
CRCOG has $507,555 in financial assistance available in the Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Program. To comply with program requirements, at least $266,466 of available funding must be loaned. The available funding amounts are subject to change as funding assistance agreements are executed. CRCOG will periodically update available funding amounts.
Maximum funding available through CRCOG’s EPA Revolving Loan Fund program is as follows:
| Type of Applicant | Type of Funding |
| Local governments, private sector, and non-profit entities | Loan: Amounts vary based on available funds, with minimum award amounts anticipated to be $50,000 |
| CRCOG Member Municipalities | Subgrant: Award amounts anticipated to be $50,000 – $200,000 based on availability |
Eligible Applicants
- Private sector, for-profit developers;
- Non-profit organizations;
- Local governments (as defined in CERCLA §101(20)(D));
- An Applicant who is exempt from CERCLA liability, and;
- An Applicant who has and can assign access in writing to a site.
This is a two-part application process. Applicants are encouraged to complete and submit Part A first so an eligibility determination may be made.
- Part A will assess the project’s eligibility for funding, alignment with this program’s goals, and the applicant’s experience.
- Part B will evaluate the project’s suitability based on the following evaluation criteria: Job Creation, Local Support, Project Shovel-Readiness, Community Need, and Proposed Reuse Strategy.
Apply by emailing the Part A application materials to Elizabeth Sanderson at esanderson@crcogct.gov. Please complete all sections of the Part A application form, including the Attachments Checklist in Appendix B before submitting your application.
CRCOG, in consultation with EPA and our consulting Qualified Environmental Professional, will review Part A responses to determine the project’s eligibility to receive a loan and/or subgrant from CRCOG’s RLF Program. Applicants will receive an eligibility determination from CRCOG, and eligible applicants will be invited to submit Part B of the RLF Application.
Applicants may choose to complete and submit Part A and Part B at the same time; however, if the Project is determined to be ineligible for funding, then Part B will not be reviewed.
Application Forms and Resource Links:
- Part A Application Form
- Appendix A List of Eligible Project Activities (included)
- Appendix B Attachments Checklist (included)
- Part B Application Form
- Appendix A: List of Eligible Project Activities (included)
- Appendix B: Attachments Checklist (included)
- Excel Template (Tables 1-6)
Applications will undergo a competitive review process and there is no guarantee of or commitment by CRCOG to funding. CRCOG will accept applications on a rolling basis until funds are fully obligated.
It is recommended that you complete Part A of this two-part application first so CRCOG and EPA can determine the Project’s eligibility for funding from this program. Applications will be reviewed quarterly, with Part A submissions being reviewed prior to Part B applications. However, Applicants may choose to complete and submit Part A and Part B at the same time.
Please note that if the Project is determined to be ineligible for funding, then Part B will not be reviewed, and CRCOG will not be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by Applicant, its agents, consultants, contractors, other funders or affiliates in connection with the proposed Project or the application materials and Applicant. In any event, Applicant, its contractors, agents and assigns shall and hereby agree to indemnify, defend and hold CRCOG and its agents, consultants, officials, members of CRCOG committees/subcommittees and employees harmless from and against any and all suits, damages, claims, causes of actions, demands, judgments, penalties, costs, expenses, attorneys’ fees, and any and all injuries to persons or property and all other matters arising out of or incurred in connection with the Project, including, but not limited to: (i) the rehabilitation, remediation, management and operation of the Project; (ii) the performance by Applicant, its contractors, agents and assigns of the covenants, terms and conditions set forth in the Program documents; and (iii) in connection with the services performed by CRCOG or any agent or consultant of CRCOG.
Target Schedule
First anticipated application cutoff: February 2, 2025
Eligible applicants recommended for advancement will be referred to CRCOG’s Brownfield Steering Committee for their review and consideration. Endorsed applications will be asked to sign CRCOG’s Endorsement Letter prior to submitting their Part B application materials.
The Brownfield Steering Committee generally meets quarterly on the second Monday of the months of March, June, September and December.
All Applicants must comply with the eligibility requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Applicants who are approved for funding shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations and the terms and conditions set forth in the Program Documents, as defined in the Endorsement Letter.
See the Applicable EPA Terms and Conditions linked below:
Recipients of funding through CRCOG’s Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund program will be required to provide quarterly updates to CRCOG for inclusion in CRCOG’s quarterly reports to EPA. The following template is an example of the information that loan/subgrant recipients may need to provide.
- Sample Quarterly Report Template
Our Programs
MetroHartford Brownfields Assessment Program
From 2004 to 2023, we managed five U.S. EPA assessment grants totaling $1,600,000 and a $200,000 grant from the State Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). We conducted 34 environmental site assessments and/or remediation planning projects in 10 municipalities.
With the closeout of our Brownfields Assessment grant, we are no longer accepting or reviewing applications for Brownfields Assessment projects at this time. We are planning to apply for competitive Assessment funding this fall.
MetroHartford Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Program
This program provides subgrants and/or loans with flexible and favorable terms to assist with cleanup of contamination at eligible Brownfields sites. Loans are available to municipalities, developers, property owners, and non-profits if they meet the eligibility requirements; subgrants are available for CRCOG member municipalities. Applications are accepted on a revolving basis, reviewed as they submitted with quarterly notices of loan approval.
Why We Do It
CRCOG and the MetroHartford Alliance believe that one of the greatest economic challenges facing our region is finding available sites for new and expanding industry. Cleaning up contaminated sites allows them to be recycled into new economic opportunities for companies expanding or relocating into the area. The increased value of these properties will bring additional revenue to our municipalities, help revitalize communities, and provide alternatives to sprawl development. Such investments can be a catalyst for development that supports the major transit investments now being undertaken in the region, particularly CTfastrak and CTrail, the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Rail line.
How We Can Help
Using our grant funding we commission environmental assessments and remedial action planning on municipally sponsored properties suspected of being contaminated by petroleum and/or other hazardous substances. Applications must be filed by a CRCOG member municipality, but work may be carried out on a site owned by a private or non-profit entity. Once the extent of contamination is known, we can assist with cleanup of contaminated sites using the Revolving Loan Fund program.
Project Repository
Please see the project repository information below.
Resources
Please see the resources below.