Untitled Document

Feature Story


*Picture of The DEW Line*

Grant Writing 101: A Primer
By Jim Halverson

Over the past few years, there has been a strong movement for the cleanup of brownfield sites. To help communities afford this cleanup and redevelopment, the EPA has established three specific brownfield funding programs.
This funding does not come easily, as cities are required to participate in extensive, detailed application processes to receive money. For cities new to the funding application process, this money can seem unattainable.
Writing a successful grant application is not a quick or an easy task. But once you begin to feel comfortable with the application, the process becomes manageable and much less intimidating. While there is a considerable amount of homework that must be completed before you can even begin to prepare the proposal, writing your application will be a snap once all of the information is assembled on your desk.
Each of the three EPA brownfield grants available has different requirements and criteria for the distribution of funds. (See Point/Counterpoint on page 20.) Becoming familiar with the criteria is an essential first step, not only because it will help you successfully secure the funds you need, but knowledge of the intricacies of each grant’s requirements will help you determine which of the EPA grants best fits your community.
To successfully win an EPA grant, you must meet two types of criteria within each of the three grants. The first type is threshold criteria. These pass/fail criteria can be intimidating because failure to meet even one of the criteria means that your application will be immediately dismissed, and you will not be allowed to re-submit an application for at least one year.
The second type is ranking criteria. In this category, you are asked to provide the “who, what, why and how” of your funding proposal, and each criterion is given a score. The projects receiving the highest total scores will be the ones that will receive the EPA dollars.
Below are tips on how to put your best foot forward when applying for the three available brownfield grants: the Brownfields Assessment Grant Program, the Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Program and the Cleanup Grant.