CCLR is open during the Federal Government Shut Down
RESOURCES FOR REVITALIZATION
OCTOBER 2025
Move Forward with Your EPA MAC Grant Application
We are still awaiting the highly-anticipated release of the EPA FY26 Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup (MAC) grant application. While we don’t know exactly when the NOFO and Guidelines will be released, there are still a number of ways you can prepare for your application:
Confirm your SAM.gov and Grant.govaccounts are up to date and accurate.
Draft your Threshold Criteria Response and share it with EPA (and us!) EPA regional staff can review and provide feedback on your Threshold Criteria Response even after the competition has opened.
Schedule a meeting with CCLR to receive cost-free one-on-one support for your land reuse project. We can talk through your application strategy, respond to questions, review pieces of your narrative, and help you connect with partners and peers.
How a Government Shutdown Impacts Brownfields
CCLR is Open and Available to Help
You may be wondering how the ongoing federal government shutdown might impact your program, or who you can go to for answers. Many EPA employees, including program/grant managers, are furloughed due to the government shutdown. This leaves few people to process grant activities. The Center for Creative Land Recycling is open and available to answer your questions and provide assistance. Schedule a meeting with CCLR.
Additionally, we can expect that pending or not-yet-awarded grants will not be awarded/processed, nor will new funding opportunities be released, until the Federal Government reopens. This includes the FY26 EPA MAC grants. It is important to maintain a steady course at this time. Maintain compliance with your grant (including submitting your Quarterly Reports, ACRES entries, and SF-425 FFR on time!) . Continue to prepare for any future applications. And most importantly, keep up the good work.
California Land Recycling Conference: Empowering communities through brownfield reuse
The sixth annual CALRC, Sept 16-18th in Carson, CA, convened more than three hundred land reuse practitioners to exchange information and inspiration for every step of the brownfield reuse process. From Maine to Maui, we heard from 94 expert speakers on topics that included fire and flood recovery, brownfield basics to advanced cleanup techniques.
FY26 Brownfield Grant Workshop with National League of Cities’ Local Infrastructure Hub in Collaboration with CCLR
Thursday, October 9│9:00 AM PT on Zoom │Register Now
In collaboration with the National League of Cities, CCLR will give an insiders’ look at program changes, application tips, and strategies to make your FY26 EPA Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) Brownfields Grant application stand out. This is more than just a webinar, join us for a cost-free, four-hour workshop with interactive exercises to sharpen your funding strategy, gain exclusive resources you can put to work immediately, and have the chance to book one-on-one office hours with our team for personalized guidance after the session. Whether you intend to apply in FY26 or need support to grow your brownfields program, this workshop will provide insights and resources!
EPA Grants Webinar: Competition Process
Wednesday, October 22nd | 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET | Register Now
This webinar is intended to help grant applicants learn how to find and successfully apply for competitive EPA grants. The EPA will also provide an overview of the competition process from application through evaluation and selection.
Meet Your Fulcrum Potential: Balancing Power Between Community Members and Land Reuse Practitioners
Wednesday, October 29│11:00 AM PT on Zoom │ Register now
Join CCLR and Groundwork USA for this dynamic webinar where you’ll discover practical strategies for bridging the gap between community needs and decision-making authorities. We'll delve into the "fulcrum concept," highlighting the critical role nonprofits can play in balancing power dynamics to empower residents to lead redevelopment initiatives.
Let's Create a Park: Building Creative Funding Strategies for Park Development
Tuesday, November 18│10:00 AM PT on Zoom │ Register now
Parks transform communities — but park funding is often the greatest challenge to realizing this potential. Join the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) and WRT for a webinar introducing the Let’s Create a Park! funding guide. This practical tool helps communities understand the park development process, identify and stack funding sources, and create sustainable strategies to make parks a reality.
Grow America EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Office Hours
Bring your questions, opportunities, and challenges regarding Brownfields financing and redevelopment.
Wednesday, September 24 @ 3-5pm ET/12-2pm PT: Register here.
Wednesday, October 22 @ 3-5pm ET/12-2pm PT: Register here.
Wednesday, November 19 @ 3-5pm ET/12-2pm PT: Register here.
FUNDING & ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
EPA Targeted Brownfield Assessments
EPA’s Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) program helps communities understand potential contamination at a brownfield site and plan for cleanup and redevelopment. TBAs are conducted by an EPA contractor on behalf of an eligible entity. Services include site assessments, cleanup options and cost estimates, and community. Learn More
New Guides from EPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization:
California: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MIDPEN) announces $300,000 in funding through the 2025 Grantmaking Program
Organizations are invited to submit pre-proposals by Friday, October 31, 2025 for projects that further scientific understanding of our natural world; build capacity in the conservation field; and support nature-focused access, interpretation, and/or education for the public. For full details and instructions, access the request for proposals at openspace.org/grants.
