In 2018, grants will be awarded bi-annually with grant applications due on May 1 and November 1.

Applying for an ERF grant

New application process in 2018

Starting with this grant application round, we will now be accepting applications through the new online Supplier Portal.

All Spring 2018 application materials are due by Tuesday, May 1 at 4:30 p.m.

To access the 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. Individual funding commitments vary depending on the project, the amount of available grant funding and the list of applications received.

Project selection

ERF grants for assessment and cleanup are awarded on a competitive basis, and priority is given to the following types of projects:

• Contaminated or potentially contaminated sites where the preferred end use is publicly owned property, such as park space, schools, and non-profit or municipal facilities.
• Affordable and moderate market-rate housing projects where contamination issues preclude redevelopment.
• Infill brownfield properties or orphan sites that are generally not attractive to large redevelopments but disrupt the fabric of community life and contribute to blight.
• Projects that incorporate sustainable activities and features in the project design, construction and operation.

Eligible applicants

Eligible applicants for ERF include municipalities, economic development agencies, housing and redevelopment authorities, non-profit organizations, public companies, and private for-profit companies. ERF grants are not available to non-local government responsible parties.

ERF grants are available for the investigation or cleanup of non-petroleum contamination or petroleum-related contamination that is not eligible for reimbursement by the Minnesota Petrofund.

Additional funding sources

Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund

Hennepin County also has an EPA-funded Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund program available to assist with the investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites. A grant and loan package can be a favorable way to tackle larger projects.

Minnesota Brownfields Resource Guide

For more information about grants and loans available to help cleanup contaminated lands, see the Minnesota Brownfields 2016 Resource Guide (PDF).

Forms for Environmental Response Fund grant recipients

Grant recipients need to complete the following forms:

1. Download and complete a disbursement form to request grant funds:
   • Disbursement request form - one draw (XLS)
   • Disbursement request form - multiple draw (XLS)
2. Download and complete an annual progress report (DOCX).

Instructions for submitting disbursements

To submit disbursements:

• Send a draft disbursement request and all back up information to the Hennepin County Environment and Energy contact person to whom you currently submit requests. Environment and Energy staff will review the request and, if the request if acceptable, obtain a purchase order number that will be sent to you via your preferred communication methods (email, mail or fax).
• Once you receive a purchase order number, enter the number on the disbursement request form, sign the form and return the final request form to your Environment and Energy staff contact.
• Send a copy of the final signed disbursement request form (do not resubmit the backup material) to your Hennepin County Environment and Energy contact person so they can monitor the progress of your request.

Environmental Response Fund (ERF), which is funded by a county mortgage registry and deed tax, provided communities with funding necessary to assess and clean up contaminated properties, which spurs economic growth, creates jobs, revitalizes neighborhoods and leverage private and public investment.

Economic growth

Since being established in November 2001, ERF has funded 370 projects totaling more than $51 million.

These grants help:

Create jobs

Grant-assisted projects have results in the creation or retention of more than 9,500 jobs.

Revitalize neighborhoods and increase property values and tax revenue

Property values of completed ERF-aided projects increased more than $437 million compared to pre-assessment and cleanup values, which is an 11 to 1 return on investment. In addition, from 2003 to 2012, completed ERF-aided projects generated $64 million more in property taxes than was generated by these same properties prior to ERF involvement.

ERF funding can be the critical piece that brings redevelopment projects and businesses to vacant properties. By transforming sites from public safety nuisances into community assets, redeveloping vacant properties can reduce crime.

Leverage public and private investment

ERF has leveraged $1.7 billion in privately funded development costs.

The need for ERF continues

Hennepin County has more than 19 percent of the state’s Superfund sites, 19 percent of the state’s petroleum release sites, 41 percent of the state’s voluntary investigation and cleanup sites, and 8 percent of the state’s dump sites, totaling more than 4,300 sites of concern.

Grants awarded February 2018

In February 2018, Hennepin County awarded 10 Environmental Response Fund grants totaling nearly $1.45 million. 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, supporting stormwater management improvements, and creating market-rate and affordable housing. The recommended grants provide for the renovation and/or construction of an estimated 533 units of affordable housing.

• 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. (Contractor: Minnesota Brownfields)
• Bunge East Redevelopment, Minneapolis: $34,500 for contaminated soil cleanup and vapor mitigation associated with the construction of 95 affordable housing units (Contractor: City of Minneapolis)
• CLCLT Homes, Fall 2017, Minneapolis: $225,000 for asbestos and lead-based paint abatement associated with the renovation of 15 owner-occupied, permanently affordable, residential homes (Contractor: City of Lakes Community Land Trust, or affiliated entity)
• Former Hilger Landfill, Maple Grove: $250,000 for contaminated soil and debris cleanup of a former unpermitted dump to construct a new office-warehouse complex (Contractor: City of Maple Grove)
• Hook & Ladder Apartments, Minneapolis: $300,000 for contaminated soil cleanup associated with construction of 118 affordable/work-force housing units (Contractor: City of Minneapolis)
• Hopkins Cold Storage, Hopkins: $25,000 for continued assessment work in preparation for future development along Minnehaha Creek. (Applicant: Minnehaha Creek Watershed District)
• Leef Project, Minneapolis: $27,000 for a portion of demolition costs to facilitate contaminated groundwater cleanup efforts required prior to the construction of 100 affordable housing units. (Contractor: City of Minneapolis)
• Maya Commons, Minneapolis: $185,260 for contaminated soil cleanup associated with construction of 50 affordable housing units (Contractor: City of Minneapolis)
• Mino-bimaadiziwin, Minneapolis: $145,000 for demolition and asbestos/lead-based paint abatement associated with construction of 155 affordable housing units, 20% of which will be dedicated to assisting families facing long-term homelessness (Contractor: Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, or affiliated entity)
• Terrace Mall Redevelopment, Robbinsdale: $49,400 for contaminated soil cleanup associated with construction of a new grocery store (Contractor: City of Robbinsdale)

Grants awarded January 2017

In January 2017, Hennepin County awarded nine Environmental Response Fund grants totaling nearly $1.3 million. The grants will fund asbestos and lead-based paint abatement and contaminated soil assessment and cleanup.

• Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission (Bassett Creek main stem erosion repair), Minneapolis: $150,300 for disposal of exposed contaminated soil along the streambank to help improve water quality and habitat along Bassett Creek.
• City of Lakes Community Land Trust, Minneapolis:$230,000 for asbestos and lead-based paint abatement associated with the renovation of 10 houses as owner-occupied, permanently affordable housing.
• City of Minneapolis (Hook and Ladder Apartments): $71,994 for contaminated soil cleanup associated with building 118 units of affordable housing.
• City of Minneapolis (Penn Avenue Union): $41,769 for contaminated soil cleanup associated with the development of affordable and market-rate housing, a restaurant, and office space.
• City of St. Louis Park (Carpenter Park stormwater improvements): $166,000 to clean up contaminated soil associated with development of new stormwater management structures and planned park improvements.
• City of St. Louis Park Economic Development Authority (PLACE): $92,230 for demolition and contamination cleanup in preparation for a multi-use development that will include 300 apartment units (200 affordable and 100 market rate), a 110 room hotel, coffee house, bike shop, eight microbusinesses and more.
• Ebenezer Park Apartments, Minneapolis: $142,654 for lead-based paint and asbestos abatement at a 200 unit complex for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities.
• Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board: $142,000 for contaminated soil disposal during construction of the Sheridan Memorial Park, located along the east bank of the Mississippi River in northeast Minneapolis. Park improvements will include playgrounds and picnic facilities.
• Minnesota Brownfields, countywide: $250,000 to continue the Brownfields Gap Financing Program, which provides small environmental assessment grants to government entities and non-profit organizations.