What is the Equitable Community Revitalization Grant?

Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG) is more than just an environmental assessment, investigation and cleanup grant; it is a promise to advance environmental justice, uplift communities, foster equitable development, and ensure a healthier, safer future for communities across California.

Administered by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) Office of Brownfields, ECRG ensures that land is safe for new development, directly aligning with the Office of Brownfields’ mission.

Mission

The mission of ECRG is to EnCouRaGe beneficial reuse of land through assessment, investigation, and cleanup, while advancing environmental justice goals through concerted support and deep investment in vulnerable and underserved communities.

Vision

The vision of ECRG is to transform brownfields into vibrant community spaces where people live, work, play, and learn in harmony with their built environment.

Impact

ECRG tackles environmental harm head-on by funding regulatory agency managed assessments, investigation and cleanups that support the transformation of blighted, polluted properties into safe vital community assets like parks, affordable housing, or essential retail such as grocery stores in food deserts. By addressing environmental challenges, the grant ensures that these projects promote equitable land reuse and advance environmental justice. Its rigorous criteria guarantee that funded initiatives go beyond basic cleanup requirements, actively engage the community, and commit to delivering tangible benefits. This focus on exceptional projects helps elevate communities in need by addressing environmental justice concerns, energizing public participation, and promoting equitable reuse.

Senate Bill 158 and Legislative Background

In 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 158 into law as part of the Cleanup In Vulnerable Communities Initiative (CVCI). This legislation allocated $500 million to expedite the cleanup and beneficial reuse of contaminated properties, prioritizing historically vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. ECRG a key component of SB 158, was assigned over $270 million in grants to incentivize cleanup and investment in disadvantaged areas of California. This funding gives communities an unprecedented opportunity to address historic environmental injustices and set a new path for land use with lasting benefits.

Current Status

ECRG Round 1 grants were awarded in 2022. Round 2 followed in 2024, funded by California Climate Investments (CCI), a statewide initiative supported by Cap-and-Trade dollars to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and foster sustainable, equitable development.

Funding for ECRG Round 3 has been reallocated to address other state priorities and community needs, and therefore, it will not open next year as planned. We encourage grantees, stakeholders, and community members to stay engaged and watch for future opportunities that may support the launch of Round 3 by signing up for updates.

Community Benefits

ECRG is a catalyst for community transformation. By targeting historically vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, it helps rectify long-standing environmental injustices. At its core, ECRG focuses on making contaminated properties safe, facilitating their transformation into protective, usable spaces that foster environmental equity and public health. ECRG-funded projects create green spaces, commercial enterprises, and housing developments, enhancing the quality of life for residents of the community. Public participation ensures that community needs and voices are heard, leading to outcomes that provide long-term economic and social advantages.

Future Opportunities

When funded, ECRG offers several types of grants to support different stages of environmental assessment and cleanup:

• Community-wide Assessment: Funds early-stage activities to understand the environmental conditions of multiple sites in a defined area. Supports Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, Preliminary Endangerment Assessments, community engagement, and the development of brownfield site inventories, including GIS mapping.
• Site-specific Investigation: Supports site-specific investigation and cleanup planning for sites slated for reuse. Activities include All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI), various site assessments, health and ecological risk assessments, evaluation of cleanup methods, pilot tests, and preparation of cleanup plans.
• Site-specific Cleanup Grant: Covers planning, implementation, and reporting costs for site cleanups. Includes pilot tests, sampling and analysis, public engagement, and cleanup-related California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) activities. A regulatory-approved cleanup plan is highly recommended for applicants.