The Maine Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD) is soliciting applications through its Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (BRLF) Program for cleanup loans and grants at Brownfields properties throughout Maine. Along with its technical partner, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Brownfields Program, the DECD BRLF Program will fund the cleanup of a number of Brownfields projects, preparing the sites for reuse.
Applications are being accepted now through Wednesday, August 27, 2025. A panel of staff from both agencies will review all applications, choosing those that best meet the criteria. We anticipate that the “winners” will be informed by Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
This year, there is no “match” for the funding. EPA does require that more than 50% of the total funds issued by DECD’s BRLF Program will be in the form of a loan, so DECD will generally prioritize projects requesting at least 50% of the funding as a loan. The BRLF Program is able to provide attractive terms for loans. A municipality or a non-profit may request both grant and loan funds. Private entities are only eligible for loan funds. An applicant may request up to $500,000 per source (grant or loan). The BRLF Program may consider a higher request on a project-by-project basis. All requests exceeding the $500,000 cap must provide a written justification of why the extra funding is necessary and appropriate.
Given the unprecedented influx of funding into the federal Brownfields Program this year and the next several years, it is important that we start work on our “shovel-ready” projects now and prepare our other Brownfields projects for cleanup funding in the following years. Being able to demonstrate successes to EPA now will position Maine well in the following years, ensuring a steady stream of robust funding. Both DECD and DEP will work with applicants that don’t receive funding this time to position them for success in the future.
Because this is a competitive process, there are five major areas your application should address thoroughly to be successful:
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- completeness of application.
- demonstration of an aggressive schedule for starting the project and using the funding.
- demonstrate leveraging of other funding and resources to ensure the completion of the project.
- explain how the remedial approach will result in a remedy that is durable resilient in the face of severe weather events.
Failure to adequately address any of these areas will affect the competitiveness of the application.
DECD and DEP are hopeful that we receive a number of good applications that we can fund. The amount of funding we obligate will depend on the quantity and quality of the applications we receive.
Please use the application (Word) (which has been revised), and read the eligibility criteria carefully. Please complete and include the RLF Eligibility Checklist (Word). All applications should be submitted electronically to christopher.redmond@maine.gov by Wednesday, August 27, 2025.