FY27 Brownfields Job Training (JT) Grants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the FY27 Brownfields Job Training (JT) Grants (Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-OLEM-OBLR-26-01). This program solicits applications from eligible entities to deliver local training programs that recruit, train, and place unemployed and underemployed residents in solid and hazardous waste-impacted communities. Eligible graduates are prepared for full-time, sustainable environmental careers that support community cleanup and revitalization efforts. The EPA anticipates awarding up to 20 cooperative agreements, with total program funding estimated between $5 million and $6 million. Individual applicants or coalitions may request up to $300,000 for a project period of up to three years. Key dates include a National Outreach Webinar on August 6, 2026, and an application deadline of September 23, 2026. Eligible applicants include local and state government entities, land clearance authorities, redevelopment agencies, federally recognized Indian Tribes, and tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Eligible training activities must support brownfield assessment, remediation, community involvement, or site preparation. While curricula must be tailored to local employer needs, the only mandatory course is the OSHA 29 CFR § 1910.120 40-hour HAZWOPER certification. Applications are subject to strict eligibility thresholds, including a 5% cap on administrative costs and a 40% cap on participant support costs. Programs will be evaluated on community need, training design, partnership commitments, and anticipated placement outcomes.