The Central Virginia Planning District Commission has been awarded a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Region 3. The 3-year grant has EPA funding committed to September 2025. This grant will be used by the CVPDC and its member partners to conduct Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), to support property reuse and remediation planning and economic development and revitalization in the region.
EPA’s Brownfields Program empowers communities and property owners to work together to assess, characterize and develop a foundation with which to plan redevelopment and reuse of properties that may have a complicated condition or history preventing use.
100% of all ESA work on eligible private property will be funded through the awarded EPA Brownfield Assessment grant. All of the CVPDC EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant funding will be expended within the CVPDC planning footprint.
Brownfields – Tell Me More
What is a Brownfield?
A brownfield is any real property, that expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. A brownfield, thus, can potentially be any property, including a residential property, where at some point, hazardous substances (e.g. pesticides, cleaning fluids) might have been used.
Is my property a brownfield?
Possibly. If you can answer yes to the following questions, you may own a brownfield.
- Is my land or property vacant, dilapidated, or less productive than it has been in the past?
- Are there concerns about contamination or other environmental conditions that are impacting the value or use of the property?
Who will conduct the Environmental Site Assessments
The CVPDC has secured the consultant services of Environmental Standards, Inc. Environmental Standards is a nationally recognized firm leading brownfield programs from the Phase I and Phase II environmental assessment through the property redevelopment phase.
Access more information about the CVPDC program and Brownfields here:
Obtain Funds for Your Property
Do you own a property in the CVPDC planning area (anywhere in Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford or Campbell County) that is underutilized, not providing financial benefit, and for some reason, has environmental or redevelopment concerns? Conducting an Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) may help. The CVPDC grant can, for program eligible properties, fund the Phase I and Phase II evaluation process.
CVPDC Brownfield Program Contacts
Central Virginia Planning District Commission (434) 818-7604
