Brownfield Grant Writing Tip #1 - Call Your State Brownfield Coordinator TODAY

One of the THRESHOLD Criteria is an Acknowledgment Letter from the State or Tribal Environmental Authority.  You should go ahead now and contact the State Brownfield Coordinator for a number of reasons.  First, let him/her know that you will be asking for an acknowledgment letter.  He/she will likely ask you a couple of things.  Second, he/she may offer to review your proposal.  Please take him/her up on the offer.  These folks deal with brownfield projects daily and may even be able to help you "tell your story" (Tip #2).  Finally, there may be some synergy between what you have planned and what the State Environmental Agency is currently doing or plans to do in your area.  For instance, there's been a push to integrate waste and water programs within EPA.  Some of the EPA Brownfield Grant reviewers may be watershed folks.  Tying into "Partnership" opportunities and synergy will only strengthen your proposal.  Good Luck!

THRESHOLD CRITERIA FROM GUIDANCE REGARDING STATE ACKNOWLEDGMENT LETTER

For an applicant other than a state or tribal environmental authority, attach a current letter from the appropriate state or tribal environmental authority acknowledging that the applicant plans to conduct assessment activities and is planning to apply for federal grant funds. Failure to submit this letter will result in the rejection of the proposal for further consideration. Letters regarding proposals from prior years are not acceptable. If you are applying for multiple types of grant program activities, you need to receive only one letter acknowledging the relevant grant activities. However, you must provide a copy of this letter as an attachment to each proposal. Please note that general correspondence and documents evidencing state involvement with the project (i.e., state enforcement orders or state notice letters) are not acceptable. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide advance notice to the appropriate state or tribal environmental authority to allow adequate time for you to obtain the acknowledgment letter and attach it to your proposal.