Brownfield Grant Writing Tip #4 - Don't Re-invent the Wheel

If you've never applied before, your biggest hurdle is starting from scratch.  Having a template or a "go-by" is ideal.  If a consultant offers to write your grant for you, ask him/her for the Word version, not the hard copy.  He/She may be reluctant, but it couldn't hurt.  Another option is to contact a successful grant applicant from last year.  They will likely be much more willing to share since they likely won't be competing against you this year.... Next year may be a whole nutha story.

EPA has created a superb online tool for identifying contacts at communities that have won in the past.  Start with the EPA Grant Fact Sheet Search (http://cfpub.epa.gov/bf_factsheets/index.cfm ).  I'd start with searching within your own state or EPA Region over the past two years.  You can export information in Excel and you can click on the specific grant recipient which will link you to the Fact Sheet for that particular recipient.  For the Southern Brownfield Grantees in 2009, the list and links are as follows:

Grant Recipient Name	State/Territory	Grant Type
Alabama Department of Environmental Management	AL	A
Anderson County (South Carolina)	SC	C
Arlington, City of	TX	A
Atlanta, City of	GA	A
Baton Rouge, City of, and Parish of East Baton Rouge	LA	A
Brunswick, City of (Georgia)	GA	A
Casselberry, City of	FL	A
Charlotte, City of	NC	A
Chattanooga, City of	TN	C
Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency	TN	A
Clay County Development Authority	FL	A
Community Development & Improvement Corporation	SC	JT
Community Development Support Association, Inc.	OK	C
Crab Orchard, City of	KY	C
Daytona Beach, City of	FL	A
Durham, City of	NC	JT
Escambia County	FL	A
Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency	FL	C
Freshwater Land Trust	AL	A
Gadsden County	FL	A
Greenville, City of (Texas)	TX	A
Hartsville, City of	SC	A
Irving, City of	TX	A
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government	KY	A
Limitless Vistas, Inc.	LA	JT
Luna County	NM	A
McKinney, City of	TX	A
Miami, City of	FL	C
Millen, City of	GA	C
New Mexico Environment Department	NM	A
Newport, City of (Kentucky)	KY	A
Northern Kentucky Area Development District	KY	A
Oklahoma City Housing Authority	OK	C
Oklahoma City, City of	OK	A
Owensboro, City of	KY	A
Pelzer, Town of	SC	A
Saltillo, City of	TN	A
Shelby County	TN	A
South Daytona, City of	FL	A
Sulphur Springs, City of	TX	C
Texarkana, City of (Texas)	TX	A
Wayne County (North Carolina)	NC	A
West Central Texas Council of Governments	TX	A
Whiteville, City of	NC	A
Williamsburg County	SC	A
Wilson, City of	NC	A

Some of these successful grantees may be willing to share a copy of their proposal from last year.  While some of the grant guidelines have changed, they have remained the same for the most part of the past year and these successful proposals would be good templates/examples to draw from.  Every community is different, but having a Word Template to start from at least gives you a framework for getting some momentum.

Grant Recipient Name	State/Territory	Grant Type
Alabama Department of Environmental Management	AL	Assessment
Anderson County (South Carolina)	SC	Cleanup
Arlington, City of	TX	Assessment
Atlanta, City of	GA	Assessment
Baton Rouge, City of, and Parish of East Baton Rouge	LA	Assessment
Brunswick, City of (Georgia)	GA	Assessment
Casselberry, City of	FL	Assessment
Charlotte, City of	NC	Assessment
Chattanooga, City of	TN	Cleanup
Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency	TN	Assessment
Clay County Development Authority	FL	Assessment
Community Development & Improvement Corporation	SC	Job Training
Community Development Support Association, Inc.	OK	Cleanup
Crab Orchard, City of	KY	Cleanup
Daytona Beach, City of	FL	Assessment
Durham, City of	NC	Job Training
Escambia County	FL	Assessment
Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency	FL	Cleanup
Freshwater Land Trust	AL	Assessment
Gadsden County	FL	Assessment
Greenville, City of (Texas)	TX	Assessment
Hartsville, City of	SC	Assessment
Irving, City of	TX	Assessment
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government	KY	Assessment
Limitless Vistas, Inc.	LA	Job Training
Luna County	NM	Assessment
McKinney, City of	TX	Assessment
Miami, City of	FL	Cleanup
Millen, City of	GA	Cleanup
New Mexico Environment Department	NM	Assessment
Newport, City of (Kentucky)	KY	Assessment
Northern Kentucky Area Development District	KY	Assessment
Oklahoma City Housing Authority	OK	Cleanup
Oklahoma City, City of	OK	Assessment
Owensboro, City of	KY	Assessment
Pelzer, Town of	SC	Assessment
Saltillo, City of	TN	Assessment
Shelby County	TN	Assessment
South Daytona, City of	FL	Assessment
Sulphur Springs, City of	TX	Cleanup
Texarkana, City of (Texas)	TX	Assessment
Wayne County (North Carolina)	NC	Assessment
West Central Texas Council of Governments	TX	Assessment
Whiteville, City of	NC	Assessment
Williamsburg County	SC	Assessment
Wilson, City of	NC	Assessment