Flint Hills Regional Council presented with $1 Million Check from EPA Region 7

By Jonathan Klusmeyer

EPA Press Office

LENEXA, KAN. (JULY 18, 2025) – Today, at the Flint Hills Regional Council (FHRC) board meeting in Junction City, Kansas, EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy presented a $1 million award to FHRC for their selection to receive funding for their Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). Macy was joined by Kansas State Representative Nathan Butler and FHRC Board President Trish Giordano.

"Today, we are thrilled to present this award for the Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund to the Flint Hills Regional Council, a testament to their unwavering commitment to transforming our community," Macy said. "Having previously received an Assessment Grant, FHRC has demonstrated exceptional leadership and vision in identifying and preparing sites for revitalization. This new funding will empower them to continue their vital work, turning environmental challenges into opportunities for growth and renewal."

“This $1 million EPA grant is a game changer for the Flint Hills region,” Giordano said. “It empowers us to transform abandoned properties into thriving community assets, sparking revitalization and creating new jobs. Together, we’re paving the way for a brighter, more prosperous future.”

The $1 million grant will be used to capitalize a revolving loan fund (RLF), from which FHRC will provide up to three loans and up to two subgrants to support cleanup activities. Grant funds also will be used to establish the RLF, market the program, and support community engagement activities. RLF activities will focus on Chase, Geary, Lyon, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, and Wabaunsee counties in Kansas, with a focus on the Kansas cities of Herington, Junction City, and Manhattan.

Background

This grant is part of FY 2025 Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, Cleanup Grants, and RLF Supplemental Funding announced in May 2025. This announcement included:

Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants:

1. ~$121.8 million for 148 selectees for Assessment Grants, which will provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and community outreach.
2. ~$88.2 million for 51 selectees for Cleanup Grants, which will provide funding to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites owned by the recipient.
3. $15 million for 15 selectees for RLF Grants, which will provide funding for recipients to offer loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites.

Brownfields Supplemental Revolving Loan Fund Grants:

1. $42 million for 34 high-performing recipients to help communities continue their work to carry out cleanup and redevelopment projects on contaminated brownfield properties. Supplemental funding for RLF Grants is available to recipients that have depleted their funds and have viable cleanup projects ready for work.

View the list of selected applicants.

EPA’s Brownfields program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.9 billion in Brownfields Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. To date, brownfields investments have leveraged over $42 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding was able to leverage over 220,500 jobs from both public and private sources.