EPA Announces $9.1 Million in Grants to Assess and Cleanup Communities in Colorado

DENVER - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced over $9 million in Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup grants to accelerate the cleanup of polluted sites across Colorado. With these funds, EPA is investing directly in American communities to cleanup and redevelop blighted properties, delivering on the Trump Administration's commitment to ensure that clean air, land and water goes hand-in-hand with economic growth and opportunity.

"EPA is focused on delivering practical results that transform contaminated properties into clean, valuable spaces that spark economic growth and that directly benefit American families," said Acting Assistant Administrator for Land and Emergency Management Thomas Croci. "Addressing environmental contamination and reusing brownfield properties revitalizes neighborhoods, drives local job creation, and unleashes new economic opportunities. EPA is proud to partner with local communities to ensure they have the cleanest air, land, and water as we power the Great American Comeback." 

"Brownfields investments help communities turn long-neglected properties into engines of economic growth," said Regional Administrator Cyrus Western. "EPA is proud to support Colorado communities as they clean up contamination, spur economic growth and build a strong future for residents.

Clean air, land and water for all Americans is the first pillar of President Trump and Administrator Zeldin's Powering the Great American Comeback initiative. These grants put that commitment into action while simultaneously powering economic growth in communities across the country. Selected applications for the 2026 Brownfield Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup Grants and RLF supplemental funding in Colorado include:

• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - $2 million Assessment Grant: Grant funds will be used to conduct brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments and community outreach across a variety of priority sites.

• City of Sheridan - $500,000Assessment Grant: Grant funds will be used to complete environmental assessments to evaluate the presence and extent of asbestos, benzene, and tetrachloroethene contamination at three sites in Sheridan.

• City of Lamar - $500,000 Assessment Grant: Grant funds will be used to complete environmental assessments to evaluate the presence and extent of asbestos, lead-based paint and petroleum residues at three sites in Lamar.

• City of Trinidad - $500,000 Assessment Grant: Grant funds will be used to complete environmental assessments to evaluate the presence and extent of asbestos, lead-based paint and petroleum fuels at five sites in Trinidad.

• La Puente Home, Inc. - $1.8 million Cleanup Grant: Grant funds will be used to clean up arsenic and lead in soils at the Railroad Plaza, the largest vacant property in Alamosa. Once cleaned up, proposed redevelopment will create a multi-use commercial space and indoor and outdoor public gathering spaces.

• City of Montrose - $3.3 million Cleanup Grant: Grant funds will be used to clean up the former Bullock Plant, which is contaminated with toxic metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Following cleanup, the city plans to redevelop the site into a mixed-use space, including a climbing gym and recreational hub.

• City of Leadville - $492,000 Cleanup Grant: Grant funds will be used to clean asbestos and asbestos-containing materials from a former middle school building. After cleanup, the city plans on reusing the site as a community center, providing indoor recreation, social gathering and community programming.

Grant recipients with viable cleanup projects ready for work will help communities continue their work to carry out cleanup and redevelopment projects on contaminated brownfield properties.

View the list of selected applicants in Colorado here.

Background

EPA's Brownfields Program began in 1995 and, once these grants are awarded, will have provided over $3 billion in grant funding to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. To date, brownfields investments leveraged more than $45 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding was able to leverage, from both public and private sources, more than 228,900 jobs. Through fiscal year 2025, on average, $19.47 was leveraged for each EPA Brownfields Grant dollar awarded through multipurpose, assessment, revolving loan fund and cleanup cooperative agreements.

After selection, awards will be made once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied by selected applicants.