Brownfields Program

• Environmental site assessments.
• Tax credits.
• Revolving loans.
• Up to $250,000 a year in statewide project funding.

Site assessments

By giving a more accurate picture of the extent of site contamination (or lack thereof), the Brownfields Program helps communities revitalize land perceived to be a drain on the local economy.

Application guidelines for targeted Brownfields assessment or voluntary cleanup assistance

• The program is available for public and nonprofit groups interested in better understanding the environmental issues potentially hindering redevelopment of property.
• With the assistance of qualified contractors, we conduct an environmental assessment using record research, sample collection and analysis.
• Preferential assistance is given to groups who already have redevelopment goals in place for a specific site and where those goals provide a clear public benefit (e.g., job creation, enhancement of the tax base, creation of a public amenity).

Statewide Brownfields Assessment Grant

In 2022, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment and the communities of Cortez, Firestone, Longmont, and Lyons received a $2,000,000 U.S. EPA Brownfields grant. The grant will support the assessment, cleanup planning, and revitalization of publicly and privately-owned, contaminated properties called “Brownfields” sites.

Grant funds can be used to complete: 

• Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments.
• Cleanup planning.
• Property reuse planning activities. 

The goal is to transform properties from liabilities into assets that revitalize our communities and bring our neighborhoods back to life. Funding will be available for use on a first come, first served basis, likely through summer 2027, for approximately 30 high priority Phase I and 18 high priority Phase II Environmental Site Assessment sites.

CDPHE manages the grant with assistance from an environmental consulting team led by Stantec Consulting Services Inc.

For more information, please visit our partner community websites:
City of Longmont
City of Cortez
Town of Firestone
Town of Lyons

Statewide Brownfields Assessment Grant contact
Kathleen Knox 
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment 
303-692-3544
kathleen.knox@state.co.us
 

Disclaimer: Although this project has been funded wholly or in part by the EPA, the contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the EPA

Revolving Loan Fund

Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund application form
Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program guidelines

• As a public-private partnership, the Colorado Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund encourages the cleanup of unused or underused contaminated properties by offering financing with reduced interest rates, flexible loan terms and flexibility in acceptable forms of collateral.
  • The fund also can provide cleanup grants to qualifying local governments and nonprofits.
• All cleanups financed through the fund must have previous approval under the Voluntary Cleanup Program.
• The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority serves as financial manager for the Revolving Loan Fund, but doesn’t vote on where to allot the fund.

State incentives

Tax credit

Senate Bill 14-073 reinstated the Colorado Brownfields tax credit for qualifying entities that perform environmental remediation associated with capital improvements or redevelopment projects.

Brownfields tax credit notifications

• Colorado Brownfields tax credit notification requirements.
• Voluntary cleanup and no action determination application format.

Grants

1306 Brownfields Cleanup Grant Program

Colorado also offers financial incentives in the form of grants for cleaning up contaminated land where there’s no other federal or state program that can accomplish the cleanup. House Bill 00-1306 provided for limited state authority to use $250,000 annually for such cleanup, which is designed to protect human health and the environment and to enhance the redevelopment potential of these properties.