Montana Strong
EPA Brownfields grants help small towns realize big goals
Never Say Never
How was an industrial rail yard transformed into a popular park for hiking and fishing (shown above)?
How did a town of 9,700 get a new $7 million community health center?
How did a derelict building in a town of 560 become a regional tourism hub?
This story map showcases how rural communities “stack” or layer different funding mechanisms on top of EPA brownfields grants to bring in or enhance needed services to residents.
Brownfields Grants and Layered Financing!
EPA Brownfields is a voluntary program that was created to address underutilized and potentially contaminated properties. The program supports assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of land and buildings through both grants and direct technical assistance.
Brownfields Revitalization
To date, in Montana towns with a population of less than 35,000, there have been 390 EPA-funded brownfields assessments and cleanups resulting in 1,017 acres of brownfields made ready for reuse!
Brownfields Assessments and Cleanups FY2006-FY2022 in Montana towns of less than 35,000 population. Red pins represent brownfields assessments and green pins represent brownfield cleanups. You can zoom in and click the pins for information about each assessment and cleanup. ( Data table for assessments . Data table for cleanups .)
How Did They Do It?
Take a tour of redevelopments in Montana where EPA Brownfields grants and a clear community vision set the stage to layer multiple sources of funding. With added EPA technical assistance, other federal and state grants, and a lot of persistence, valuable community assets are created from neglected properties.
Keys to Success
Use a S.T.R.O.N.G. approach:
Start with a clear vision for redevelopment.
Take advantage of all available planning resources as early as possible and involve all stakeholders in creating the redevelopment concept.
Reach out to property owners and city staff who have gone through the process of layering financial resources for brownfield redevelopment to get one-on-one advice specific to a project.
Optimize existing resources. Talk with your economic development association, Montana Brownfields staff, other state agencies, nonprofits like Homeword, and EPA brownfields staff to identify resources and how they can be layered.
Network with the movers-and-shakers in your community to discuss future goals and potential local resources.
Get information about the different types of grants that are available and technical assistance for writing grant proposals.
Brewery Flats, Lewistown
Resources
Technical Assistance to Brownfields {External Link}
Montana Economic Developers Association {External Link}
U.S. Department of Rural Development {External Link}
Montana Department of Environmental Quality Cleanup and Reclamation {External Link}: 406-444-6444
EPA Region 8 Brownfields and Land Revitalization : Greg Davis , EPA Montana Brownfields contact 303-312-6314
Montana Preservation Alliance {External Link} List of funding and grant resources for historic preservation in Montana
