Environmental Response Fund (ERF) grants are used to fund the assessment and cleanup of contaminated sites in Hennepin County.
Find information below about ERF grant requirements, how to apply, grant management, funded projects and contacts.
Requirements
ERF grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Priority is given to the following:
- Significantly contaminated sites
- Demonstrated project readiness
- Municipal and other public development projects
- Affordable housing projects where contamination issues preclude redevelopment
- Projects that promote economic development
- Infill brownfield properties or orphan sites that contribute to blight
- Other criteria include projects that incorporate sustainable features and activities in the project design, construction, and operation
Eligible applicants for ERF include municipalities, economic development agencies, housing and redevelopment authorities, other local public entities, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses. ERF grants are not available to non-local government responsible parties.
ERF grants are available for the investigation and cleanup of non-petroleum contamination or petroleum-related contamination.
In addition to county funding, other sources of funding for the assessment and cleanup of contaminated sites in Hennepin County may also be available. More information can be found in Minnesota Brownfields: A Resource Guide (PDF).
Applying for an ERF grant
Prior to applying for an ERF grant, contact brownfields@hennepin.us to discuss your project and funding needs.
We are accepting applications now for the spring grant round. Application deadline is May 3, 2021 at 3 p.m.
To access the Request For Proposal (RFP) and apply:
- Visit the Supplier Portal.
- You can view the separate RFPs and materials by clicking the Environmental Response Fund RFP in the Events panel on the right half of the screen.
- To apply, follow the on-screen instructions.
You will need to be registered to submit an application. For detailed instructions on how to register and submit an application, including video tutorials and more, visit the Supplier Portal information page.
Funding available
Approximately $1.0 – $1.2 million is distributed every grant round. Awards vary depending on the project, the amount of available grant funding and the list of applications received. No funding match is required. Grantees can start incurring costs the day after County Board approval.
ERF grant recipients
Successful grantees will be informed of their award in summer 2021. Each grantee will be assigned a grant manager. Please contact your grant manager to discuss reimbursement requests associated with your grant. The following forms need to be submitted as part of your reimbursement request:
1. Download and complete a disbursement form to request grant funds.
2. Download and complete an annual progress report (DOCX).
3. City of Minneapolis sub-recipient grantees additional form: Download and complete quarterly progress reports (XLS)
To submit disbursements:
- Provide an electronic copy of the draft disbursement request and all back up information to the assigned grant manager to whom you currently submit requests. The grant manager will review the request and submit it for payment.
- Provide an electronic copy of the final signed disbursement request form, including all required backup documentation to your grant manager.
Grants awarded February 2021
In February 2021, Hennepin County awarded 11 ERF grants totaling $1,590,638. The grants will fund asbestos and lead-based paint abatement, vapor mitigation, and contaminated soil assessment and cleanup. The funding supports projects that create economic development by increasing the tax base, creating permanent jobs, and creating market-rate and affordable housing. The recommended grants provide for the renovation and/or construction of an estimated 752 units of affordable housing, 50 of which will be used as supportive housing for families who experience homelessness and individuals who have a Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI).
550 West Lake Street (Phase 3), Minneapolis
$85,706 for cleanup costs associated with the construction of an estimated 72 units of affordable housing (Grantee: City of Minneapolis on behalf of Lupe Development Partners)
2025 West River Road, Minneapolis
$92,329 for cleanup costs associated with the construction of an estimated 163 units of affordable housing and 2,000 square feet of commercial space. (Grantee: City of Minneapolis on behalf of SRPB Strategic Housing, LLC)
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Minneapolis
$162,775 for the installation of a vapor mitigation system (Grantee: Cristo Rey Jesuit High School)
Currie Commons, Minneapolis
$190,000 for cleanup costs associated with the construction of an estimated 187 units of affordable housing (Grantee: City of Minneapolis on behalf of Currie Commons, LLC)
Fall 2020 Homes (CLCLT), Minneapolis
$150,000 for abatement costs associated with renovating 10 single-family, permanently affordable homes (Grantee: City of Lakes Community Land Trust)
Juxtaposition Arts Campus Redevelopment, Minneapolis
$37,513 for cleanup costs associated with the construction of a new 16,000-square-foot art center (Grantee: Juxtaposition Arts, Inc.)
Lyndale Flats, Bloomington
$172,766 for cleanup costs associated with the construction of an estimated 81 units of affordable housing (Grantee: City of Bloomington HRA on behalf of MWF Properties, LLC)
Minnesota Brownfield Gap Financing Program, countywide
$200,000 to continue the Brownfields Gap Financing Program, which provides small environmental assessment grants to government entities and non-profit organizations (Grantee: Minnesota Brownfields)
Snelling Yards Senior Housing, Minneapolis
$100,421 for abatement and cleanup costs associated with construction of an estimated 100 units of affordable senior housing (Grantee: City of Minneapolis on behalf of Ecumen)
Vista 44, Hopkins
$25,000 for cleanup costs associated with the construction of an estimated 50 units of affordable housing (Grantee: Vista 44 Housing LLC)
Walker Methodist Raines, Minneapolis
$374,128 for abatement of asbestos associated with the construction of an estimated 89 units of affordable senior housing (Grantee: City of Minneapolis on behalf of Walker Methodist)