Environmental improvement assistance for redevelopment

Wisconsin’s Brownfields Grant Program provides funds to assist with the assessment and remediation of environmental contamination of abandoned, idle, or underused industrial or commercial facilities or sites. This program helps convert contaminated sites into productive properties that are attractive and ready for redevelopment.

How It Works

Any city, village, town, county, individual, tribal entity or business may apply for funds.

Eligibility Requirements

Brownfields Grant funds may be used for brownfields redevelopment or associated environmental remediation activities on sites with demonstrated soil, groundwater or vapor contamination. Applicants must demonstrate the following:

  • Phase I and Phase II Environmental Reports must have been completed no more than five years prior to the application submittal date.
  • The party that caused the environmental contamination and any person who possessed or controlled the environmental contaminant is unknown, cannot be located or is financially unable to pay for the remediation of the soil and/or groundwater.

Eligible Activities

Brownfields Grant funds may typically be used for the following activities:

  • The environmental investigation, remediation or monitoring of the site
  • The removal of hazardous waste containers
  • Soil removal, capping, barrier installation and vapor intrusion systems
  • Demolition activities that will facilitate redevelopment of a brownfields project
  • The applicant must have obtained Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources (WDNR) assistance in, or comments on, the planning and implementation of an environmental investigation or the environmental cleanup of a property through DNR technical assistance services.

DNR Ready for Reuse Program

The DNR Ready for Reuse Program is administered by the Department of Natural Resources. Ready for Reuse loans and grants are used for environmental cleanup of hazardous substances or petroleum at brownfields throughout Wisconsin.

EPA Program Details

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Program provides direct funding for brownfields assessment, cleanup, revolving loans and environmental job training.