The United State Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA) announced a Brownfields Job Training (JT) Grant. EPA’s Brownfields Job Training Grant Program is refocusing the competition on training activities that support assessment, cleanup, and preparation of brownfield sites for reuse. As a result, the Program will now be called the "Brownfields Job Training Program". The grant allows nonprofits, local governments, and other organizations to recruit, train, and place unemployed and under-employed residents of areas affected by the presence of brownfield sites. Graduates of the program will develop the skills needed to secure full-time and maintainable employment in various aspects of hazardous working areas while maintaining safety.
EPA funds may not be used for training in equipment repairs and similar leak prevention activities, but applicants may use funding from other sources in combination with EPA funding to develop comprehensive training curricula. Additionally, as of Fiscal Year 2022, funding will be available solely through EPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization and under the authorities of CERCLA §104(k)(7). No other funding sources will be available to fund this grant. Please check the Brownfields Policy Changes for additional details on policy changes to the Job Training Grant Program as of May 2022.
Substantive Changes to the FY 2024 Job Training Request for Applications:
- Anticipated total estimated funding of $12 million and an estimated 24 grants awarded.
- Entities that were awarded an FY23 Brownfields Job Training Grant are not eligible to apply for an FY24 Brownfields Job Training Grant.
- There is additional language around the OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER training requirement to reinforce that it’s up to applicants to make sure the 40 hours of training they are providing students is in compliance with OSHA.
- There is expanded language regarding eligible training for testing possible leaking underground storage tanks on brownfield sites.
- There is added language for the EJScreen and CEJST tools to help applicants identify disadvantaged communities for their target areas.
- There are some other revisions to the ranking criteria to clarify existing language.
You may check the EPA's website for the application process and more information on this grant.
Contact: Ciara Bradley, League Research Associate, Cbradley@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x128.