Brownfield Grants and Loans

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Brownfield Grants and Loans program provides financial support for projects that facilitate the reuse of contaminated properties and deliver economic benefits to local communities. Funding helps revitalize abandoned properties, return parcels to the local tax rolls, attract private developer investment, create jobs, and prevent urban sprawl by leveraging existing infrastructure.

Eligible applicants are local units of government, including brownfield redevelopment authorities (BRAs), economic development corporations, or other public bodies created pursuant to state law. Funding cannot benefit any party responsible for causing contamination at the subject property. Grant projects specifically require that the anticipated economic benefit to the community exceed the requested grant amount.

Eligible activities encompass environmental costs related to the redevelopment of contaminated or suspected contaminated properties. These include environmental site investigations, Baseline Environmental Assessments, due care planning and implementation, underground storage tank removal, environmental response activities, and demolition, lead, mold, and asbestos abatement under qualifying criteria. Grants require a specific redevelopment plan, whereas loans may be used for properties with known or suspected contamination displaying economic development potential.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis year-round. Prior to submitting a formal application, prospective applicants must contact an EGLE Brownfield Coordinator to review project details, verify eligibility, and determine the optimal funding structure.