Community assistance for environmental assessments

Wisconsin’s Brownfield Site Assessment Grant (SAG) Program provides grant funds to approved projects to assist with conducting initial environmental assessment and demolition activities on an eligible abandoned, idle or underutilized industrial or commercial site.

How it works

Any city, village, town, county, redevelopment authority, or Tribal entity can apply for funds. WEDC requires matching investment of at least 20% of the grant amount. Each community may apply for up to $150,000 per fiscal year or 15% of the available funds appropriated for the fiscal year, whichever is less.

Eligibility Requirements

SAG funds may be used for environmental assessments and associated demolition activities on properties with suspected or documented soil, groundwater, or vapor contamination. Applicants must demonstrate that:

  • 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.
  • The applicant owns or demonstrates legal access to the property to conduct project activities.

Eligible Activities

SAG funds may typically be used for:

  • The investigation of environmental contamination on an eligible site or facility for the purpose of reducing or eliminating soil contamination
  • The demolition of any structures, buildings, or other improvements located on an eligible site (projects seeking demolition activities should demonstrate that clearing the site will facilitate and provide greater access for environmental site investigation)
  • Asbestos abatement associated with demolition activities
  • The removal of abandoned containers, underground hazardous storage tank systems, or petroleum product storage tank systems
  • Asbestos abatement activities as defined in Wis. Stat. §254.11(2), conducted as part of eligible activities at an eligible site or facility; asbestos abatement-only projects (without site investigation) are allowed in communities with population less than 5,000