Community Brownfield Funding Resources

HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination, and transform the way HUD does business. HUD awards grants to organizations and groups for a variety of purposes. To participate in the HUD grants program, you need to be registered with Grants.gov.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is a flexible program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. Beginning in 1974, the CDBG program is one of the longest continuously run programs at HUD. The CDBG program provides annual grants on a formula basis to 1209 general units of local government and States.

The CDBG program works to ensure decent affordable housing, to provide services to the most vulnerable in our communities, and to create jobs through the expansion and retention of businesses. CDBG is an important tool for helping local governments tackle serious challenges facing their communities. The CDBG program has made a difference in the lives of millions of people and their communities across the Nation.

The annual CDBG appropriation is allocated between States and local jurisdictions called "non-entitlement" and "entitlement" communities respectively. Entitlement communities are comprised of central cities of Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs); metropolitan cities with populations of at least 50,000; and qualified urban counties with a population of 200,000 or more (excluding the populations of entitlement cities). States distribute CDBG funds to non-entitlement localities not qualified as entitlement communities.

• CDBG contacts in Ohio (state, entitlement cities and entitlement counties)
  
  

The Sustainable Communities Regional Planning (SCRP) Grant Program supports locally-led collaborative efforts that bring together diverse interests from the many municipalities in a region to determine how best to target housing, economic and workforce development, and infrastructure investments to create more jobs and regional economic activity. The Program places a priority on investing in partnerships, including nontraditional partnerships (e.g., arts and culture, recreation, public health, food systems, regional planning agencies and public education entities) that translate the Six Livability Principles into strategies that direct long-term development and reinvestment, demonstrate a commitment to addressing issues of regional significance, use data to set and monitor progress toward performance goals, and engage stakeholders and residents in meaningful decision-making roles. The SCRP program is a key initiative of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, in which HUD works with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) to coordinate and leverage programs and investments.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s $28 million Community Challenge Planning Grant Program fosters reform and reduces barriers to achieving affordable, economically vital, and sustainable communities. Such efforts may include amending or replacing local master plans, zoning codes, and building codes, either on a jurisdiction-wide basis or in a specific neighborhood, district, corridor, or sector to promote mixed-use development, affordable housing, the reuse of older buildings and structures for new purposes, and similar activities with the goal of promoting sustainability at the local or neighborhood level. This Program also supports the development of affordable housing through the development and adoption of inclusionary zoning ordinances and other activities to support planning implementation.  

The Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program encourages private sector investment in the rehabilitation and re-use of historic buildings. It creates jobs and is one of the nation's most successful and cost-effective community revitalization programs. It has leveraged over $62 billion in private investment to preserve 38,000 historic properties since 1976. The National Park Service and the Internal Revenue Service administer the program in partnership with State Historic Preservation Offices.

• Ohio Program: http://www.ohiohistory.org/ohio-historic-preservation-office/tax-incentives-for-historic-preservation/Federal-Tax-Incentives-for-Historic-Preservation
• Contact: http://www.ncshpo.org/shpodirectory.shtml

The Great Lakes and Ohio River Division is one of eight Army Corps of Engineers Regional Business Centers. Using Project Management Business Processes, we operate in concert with our seven Districts as a Regional Business Center where expertise and experience is shared to serve customers across 17 states.

The seven districts are Buffalo District in Buffalo, New York, Chicago District in Chicago, Illinois, Detroit District in Detroit, Michigan, Huntington District in Huntington, West Virginia, Louisville District in Louisville, Kentucky, Nashville District in Nashville, Tennessee, Pittsburgh District in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Together, we provide project management, engineering and contracting services across the full spectrum of operations--from peace to war--in support of our national interests.

The Division’s mission is to deliver vital public and military engineering services; partner in peace and war to strengthen our Nation’s security, energize the economy and reduce risks from disasters.

• Contacts:
  http://www.lrd.usace.army.mil/About/OfficesandUnits.aspx

In 1974, Congress provided the Corps of Engineers a general authority to provide assistance to States in the planning for the development, utilization, and conservation of water and related land resources. Recent amendments have expanded this assistance to ecosystem planning.

This support can be provided to States and tribal governments. Some municipalities have received support under this authority through agreements with their respective states.

One of the most general and broad-reaching elements in the Corps' toolbox, this authority has been used for a variety of water resource planning activities in the Great Lakes region. The Chicago District evaluated potential brownfield sites for the City of Chicago under this authority. The Detroit District has developed a geographic information system (GIS) mapped database of natural resources on tribal lands for the Oneida Nation. Artificial reefs for fish spawning habitat were evaluated for Wisconsin DNR.

This authority requires a cost-sharing partner, who may be a state, local or tribal government. The cost-sharing formula for assistance under this authority is 50% Federal, 50% Non-Federal.

The Corps of Engineers is ready to respond to the needs of state and local communities, other Federal agencies, and the Armed Services, by helping resolve water resource problems and provide reliable technical assistance. The Corps maintains a knowledge base to assist our customers with planning, engineering, design, project and contract management and construction.

Our core missions include flood risk management, commercial navigation, environmental restoration, and watershed planning. Other mission we execute include disaster response, water supply, facilities design & construction, installation support, recreation, hydropower, environmental infrastructure, and regulatory.

At the request of local interests, Corps’ assistance in developing and implementing solutions to water resources problems is available under several authorities.

Projects are all cost shared between the federal government and a Non-Federal Sponsor. Cost Shares range from 50/50 to 75/25 depending on the type of project. A Non-Federal Sponsor is a legally constituted public body, such as city, state, county, or conservancy district, that is capable of financing the project and providing for operation and maintenance of the project once completed.

• Louisville District - Outreach
  http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/BusinessWithUs/Outreach.aspx

• Buffalo District - Projects in Ohio
  http://www.lrb.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/ProgramandProjectFactsheets/Ohio.aspx

Public Works: Empowers distressed communities to revitalize, expand, and upgrade their physical infrastructure to attract new industry, encourage business expansion, diversify local economies, and generate or retain long-term, private sector jobs and investment.

Economic Adjustment: Assists state and local interests in designing and implementing strategies to adjust or bring about change to an economy. The program focuses on areas that have experienced or are under threat of serious structural damage to the underlying economic base.

Partnership Planning: Supports local organizations (Economic Development Districts, Indian Tribes, and other eligible areas) with long-term planning efforts. The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) Summary of Requirements (PDF), provides a synopsis of the requirements for comprehensive economic development strategies.

Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms: A national network of 11 Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers to help strengthen the competitiveness of American companies that have lost domestic sales and employment because of increased imports of similar goods and services.

University Centers: A partnership of the federal government and academia that makes the varied and vast resources of universities available to the economic development community.

Research and National Technical Assistance: Supports research of leading edge, world class economic development practices and information dissemination efforts.

• FY 2016 Economic Development Assistance Programs
  http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=279842

• EDA's Planning and Local Technical Assistance Programs
  http://www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html?oppId=189193

• Contacts:
  http://www.eda.gov/contacts.htm#cro

EPA's Brownfields Program provides direct funding for brownfields assessment, cleanup, revolving loans, and environmental job training. To facilitate the leveraging of public resources, EPA's Brownfields Program collaborates with other EPA programs, other federal partners, and state agencies to identify and make available resources that can be used for brownfields activities. In addition to direct brownfields funding, EPA also provides technical information on brownfields financing matters.

Area-Wide Planning Pilot Program: The grant funding and direct assistance (through Agency contract support) will result in an area-wide plan which will inform the assessment, cleanup and reuse of brownfields properties and promote area-wide revitalization.

Assessment Grants: Assessment grants provide funding for a grant recipient to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct planning and community involvement related to brownfield sites. Revolving Loan Fund Grants: The purpose of Revolving Loan Fund Grants is to enable States, political subdivisions, and Indian tribes to make low interest loans to carryout cleanup activities at brownfields properties. Cleanup Grants: Cleanup grants provide funding for a grant recipient to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites.

Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants: Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants are designed to provide funding to eligible entities, including nonprofit organizations, to recruit, train, and place predominantly low-income and minority, unemployed and under-employed residents of solid and hazardous waste-impacted communities with the skills needed to secure full-time, sustainable employment in the environmental field and in the assessment and cleanup work taking place in their communities.

Multi-Purpose Pilot Grants: The EPA is piloting a new grant program that will provide a single grant to an eligible entity for both assessment and cleanup work at a specific brownfield site owned by the applicant.

Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants: Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants provide funding to eligible organizations to provide training, research, and technical assistance to facilitate brownfields revitalization.

Targeted Brownfields Assessments: The Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) program is designed to help states, tribes, and municipalities–especially those without EPA Brownfields Assessment Pilots/Grants–minimize the uncertainties of contamination often associated with brownfields.

• Ohio contact: Karla Auker
  Auker.Karla@epa.gov or 440-250-1741

Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. EPA has this goal for all communities and persons across this Nation. It will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.

The Environmental Justice Small Grants Program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations to build collaborative partnerships, to identify the local environmental and/or public health issues, and to envision solutions and empower the community through education, training, and outreach.

The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working on or planning to work on projects to address local environmental and/or public health issues in their communities, using EPA's "Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Model."

The Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreements in Support of Communities Directly Affected by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico will provide funding to local non-profit community-based organizations—including faith-based organizations, environmental justice networks, and local Native American tribal governments in Regions 4 or 6—to assist local communities facing environmental justice challenges and help develop educational materials and strategies on how to address and adapt to the spill’s long-term effects.

EPA is committed to making it easier for communities to access our grant resources. Here is the calendar of expected 2015 competitive grant opportunities that may be of particular interest to communities. We will update this information periodically as needed. These opportunities, as well as other EPA grant opportunities, will be posted on Grants.gov.

Community Facilities Programs provide loans, grant and loan guarantees for essential community facilities in rural areas. Priority is given to health care, education and public safety projects. Typical projects are hospitals, health clinics, schools, fire houses, community centers and many other community based initiatives. Visit the following links for more information and assistance in utilizing these funding sources.

Purposes: To develop water and waste disposal systems in rural areas and towns with a population not in excess of 10,000. The funds are available to public bodies, non-profit corporations and Indian tribes.

http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/programs-services-communities-nonprofits 

• Contact:
  http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices/oh

The Chronicle of Philanthropy is the No. 1 news source, in print and online, for nonprofit leaders, fund raisers, grant makers, and other people involved in the philanthropic enterprise. For more than 20 years, The Chronicle has been connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas.

The Chronicle provides news and information for executives of tax-exempt organizations in health, education, religion, the arts, social services, and other fields, as well as fund raisers, professional employees of foundations, institutional investors, corporate grant makers, and charity donors. Along with news, it offers such service features as lists of grants, fundraising ideas and techniques, statistics, reports on tax and court rulings, summaries of books, and a calendar of events.

The Council on Foundations, formed in 1949, is a nonprofit membership association of grant-making foundations and corporations. Members of the Council include more than 1,700 independent, operating, community, public and company-sponsored foundations, and corporate giving programs in the United States and abroad. The Council’s mission is to provide the opportunity, leadership, and tools needed by philanthropic organizations to expand, enhance, and sustain their ability to advance the common good.

• Directory of foundations for non-members:
  http://www.cof.org/members-directory/non-members

(also provides subscription service)

Established in 1956 and today supported by close to 550 foundations, the Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. The Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level. Thousands of people visit the Center's web site each day and are served in its five library/learning centers and at more than 470 Funding Information Network locations nationwide and around the world.

• Free foundation directory:
  http://www.foundationcenter.org/findfunders/foundfinder/

• Locations of libraries, community foundations, and other nonprofit resource centers that have subscriptions available to the public for free:
  http://grantspace.org/Find-Us

(also provides subscription service)

Here at GuideStar we gather and disseminate information about every single IRS-registered nonprofit organization. We provide as much information as we can about each nonprofit's mission, legitimacy, impact, reputation, finances, programs, transparency, governance, and so much more. We do that so you can take the information and make the best decisions possible. Learn about our impact and results in 2013.

We encourage nonprofits to share information about their organizations openly and completely. Any nonprofit in our database can update its report—for free. We combine the information that nonprofits supply with data from several other sources.

(also provides subscription service)

Our job is to help private and public nonprofits make better communities. And we do that by offering training and publications to help organizations plan solid programs, write logical, compelling grant proposals and create earned income opportunities. Whether you want to secure, award, or manage grants or create earned income to supplement grants, we at The Grantsmanship Center provide tools to help you do your job— trainings, articles, books, webcasts, and blogs. These resources are designed so you can help your organization get and use funding for your community.

• Local funding sources in Ohio:
  https://www.tgci.com/funding-sources/ohio

Invest in Neighborhoods Inc. is a nonprofit organization created in 1982 to promote and assist the 51 community councils that represent the neighborhoods of Cincinnati, Ohio. Our mission is to assist the councils with financial resources and to promote self-sufficiency and leadership skills of the councils and their residents.

We do this through:

• Neighborhood Fund: This perpetual fund generates significant income that is divided among member community councils on an annual basis.

• Technical Assistance and Leadership Development: We provide assistance on a daily basis to community councils for their regular operations. We also collaborate with other agencies to assure that a plethora of leadership development opportunities are available to the councils.

• Leadership Manual:
  http://www.investinneighborhoods.com/fundsource.html

In March 2011, Western Reserve Land Conservancy launched a region-wide effort to help revitalize our urban centers. We named the effort Thriving Communities Institute because of all the connotations the word thriving holds for urban centers: flourishing, prospering, blossoming and successful. Our cities have thrived in the past; and we believe they will thrive again. They will move from vacancy to vitality.

• Resource list:
  http://www.thrivingcommunitiesinstitute.org/links-resources.html

ARC awards grants to projects that address one or more of the four goals identified by ARC in its strategic plan and that can demonstrate measurable results. Typically, ARC project grants are awarded to state and local agencies and governmental entities (such as economic development authorities), local governing boards (such as county councils), and nonprofit organizations (such as schools and organizations that build low-cost housing).

ARC targets special assistance to economically distressed counties in the Appalachian Region, allowing up to 80 percent participation in grants in distressed areas.

Almost all program grants originate at the state level. Potential applicants should contact their state ARC program manager to request a pre-application package. The local development district serving the county in which the project is located may provide guidance on a project's eligibility for funding and assistance in preparing a grant application.

• State Program Managers:
  http://www.arc.gov/about/StateProgramManagers.asp

To ensure that funds are used effectively and efficiently, and to strengthen local participation, ARC works with the Appalachian states to support a network of multicounty planning and development organizations, or local development districts (LDDs), throughout the Region. The 73 LDDs cover all 420 counties in Appalachia.

The LDDs' most important role is to identify priority needs of local communities. Based on these needs, the LDDs work with their board members and other local citizens to develop plans for their communities' economic development, to target and meet the most pressing needs, and to build community unity and leadership.

• Local Development Districts in Ohio:
  http://www.arc.gov/about/LocalDevelopmentDistrictsinOhio.asp

The Ohio legislature established the Acid Mine Drainage Abatement and Treatment (AMDAT) fund in March 1995. The division transfers up to 30% of the annual federal Abandoned Mine Land (AML) grant into the AMDAT fund. Grant moneys placed into the AMDAT fund, pursuant to ORC 1513.37 (E) are utilized to provide for the long-term clean up of mine drainage problems within watersheds that have been approved as hydrologic units.

The Division of Mineral Resources Management supports and assists local efforts aimed at restoring streams to their pre-mining ecological condition and to construct acid mine drainage (AMD) remediation projects that demonstrate cost-effective environmental benefits.

• Acid Mine Drainage brochure with regional contacts:
  http://minerals.ohiodnr.gov/portals/minerals/pdf/amd/acid_mine_drainage_program.pdf

DMRM administers both a state abandoned mine land program (AML) and a federal AML program to address the highest priority problems resulting from coal mining that occurred prior to enactment of today’s stricter reclamation requirements. Both programs are funded by severance taxes levied on the mining of coal.

State and federal funds provide resources for the Division’s Abandoned Mine Land Program to investigate, design and construct projects to address the environmental, public health and safety problems related to abandoned mines.

• Contacts:
  http://minerals.ohiodnr.gov/contacts-about-us/contacts-offices

• https://gis.ohiodnr.gov/website/dgs/mines/

The Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) helps protect coastal and estuarine lands considered important for their ecological, conservation, recreational, historical or aesthetic value or that are threatened by conversion from a natural or recreational state to other uses. This grant program provides federal funding for the purchase of significant coastal and estuarine lands within Ohio’s Lake Erie Watershed, or conservation easements on such lands, from willing sellers.

• Map of Lake Erie watershed:
  http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Mi5DeFWBZaQ%3d&tabid=9280

The Ohio Coastal Management Program and its grants strive to promote a sustainable coast and lake. Watershed planning to address coastal nonpoint pollution, balanced growth and water quality-related education and outreach have been given priority for grant funding. The goal is to promote watershed and balanced growth planning that will address natural resource protection and restoration, economic viability and sustainable coastal development issues as well as projects to enhance water quality protection.

• Map of coastal management area:
  http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=LRaLxxc%2by5M%3d&tabid=9280

The JobsOhio Economic Development Grant was created to promote economic development, business expansion, and job creation by providing funding for eligible projects in the State of Ohio. Grant decisions are based on a number of project factors, including but not limited to job creation, additional payroll, fixed-asset investment commitment, project return on investment, and project location.

The JobsOhio Revitalization Program is focused on helping revitalize sites in preparation for end-users that support future job creation opportunities for Ohioans. The program, comprised of both loans and grants, is available to public and private entities seeking to cleanup and redevelop sites across Ohio.

• Phase II:
  http://jobs-ohio.com/images/Revite_Phase2_Revised_FINAL_061614.pdf

• Cleanup:
  http://jobs-ohio.com/images/Revite_LoanGrant_Revised_FINAL_061614.pdf

The Ohio Brownfield Fund is a collection of funding sources that can be used to help plan, assess, and remediate brownfields throughout the state. A brownfield is a piece of property whose redevelopment is complicated by the potential presence of environmental contaminants such as hazardous substances, asbestos, lead-based paint, and petroleum. Brownfield redevelopment allows a community to reclaim and improve its lands, making property viable for new development.

The Ohio Development Services Agency worked with Governor Kasich and the Ohio General Assembly to establish and implement Ohio's new economic development strategy. A cornerstone of this strategy was the creation of JobsOhio, and a reorganization of the Ohio Department of Development. As part of this reorganization, the Department of Development was renamed Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA), focusing on supporting the businesses, individuals, and communities in Ohio.

While JobsOhio now leads the way attracting and retaining jobs, Ohio Development Services Agency has assumed the role of supporting and overseeing this effort. Development will continue to offer programs that help Ohio's most vulnerable citizens and to support community development activities. Our Agency also will continue to be committed to continuous improvement as we work to streamline our programs and provide exceptional customer service.

The Ohio Finance Agency (OHFA) received approval from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to utilize up to $60 million of Ohio’s remaining Hardest Hit Funds (HHF) to assist with stabilizing local property values through the demolition of vacant and abandoned homes across Ohio.

The Neighborhood Initiative Program (NIP) is designed to stabilize property values by removing and greening vacant and abandoned properties in targeted areas in an effort to prevent future foreclosures for existing homeowners.

The Neighborhood Initiative Program (NIP) will fund strategically targeted residential demolition in designated areas within the state of Ohio. OHFA will partner with County Land Revitalization Corporations (“land banks”) or an entity that has signed a cooperative agreement with an established county land bank.

• NIP will be available to the 17 Ohio counties that have an established land bank.
• OHFA has issued a Request for Proposals from the state’s county land banks.
• The program begins in early 2014 and concludes in 2017.

Technical Assistance

OHFA has contracted GOPC to advise OHFA and applicants on the implementation of the Neighborhood Initiative Program (NIP).

Assistance includes:

• Consultation with applicants regarding best practices for the selection of neighborhoods and properties for the program
• Strategic and technical advice to eligible applicants in responding to the RFP for the NIP

Federal tax law offers a 20% tax credit for the rehabilitation of historic buildings, and a 10% tax credit for the rehabilitation of non-historic buildings built before 1936. The credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions of taxes owed. The 20% rehabilitation investment tax credit equals 20% of qualified expenditures in a certified rehabilitation of a certified historic structure. The 10% rehabilitation investment tax credit equals 10% of qualified expenditures for rehabilitation of a non-historic building built before 1936. For both credits, the building must be depreciable and the rehabilitation must be substantial.

For information on the current status of the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit (OHPTC) program visit the Ohio Development Services Agency website at http://www.development.ohio.gov/cs/cs_ohptc.htm or contact the Ohio Development Services Agency at historic@development.ohio.gov or call 614-995-2292.

• For a list of funding sources compiled by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office, select “History Fund”:
  http://www.ohiohistory.org/ohio-historic-preservation-office/grants-and-funding-sources

• http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/sustainable_housing_communities/sustainable_communities_regional_planning_grants

Many of the programs are implemented in conjunction with other agencies such as Ohio EPA, USDA Rural Development, ODSA, and ODNR and are described in detail under the links for these agencies.

Community Assistance Program
http://www.owda.org/owda-doc/Program Info/NotesCA 2010May.pdf

Local government agencies may qualify for low-interest financing under the OWDA 2% Community Assistance Loan Program. The program is designed to help communities maintain affordable water and wastewater rates. To be eligible, the project can be either a water or wastewater project causing an economic hardship to the community and meeting the following criteria: •All communities under 5,000 in population or 2,000 residential users are eligible.

• $3,000,000 is the maximum amount for a project from the Community Assistance Fund.

• The projected annual cost per user must be above OEPA affordability criteria. User charges must be above 1.1% of the community’s Median Household Income (2000 Census) for drinking water projects, and above 1.5% of the community’s Median Household Income (2000 Census) for wastewater projects. The community can qualify also if the combined system user charges are 2.6% of the community’s Median Household Income (2000 Census).

If you have questions regarding qualifications for the Community Assistance Program, please contact the Chief Loan Officer.