Grow America and ICMA lead the Technical Assistance for Brownfields (TAB) for EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Funds (RLF) program to empower new and existing grantees by improving financial capacity, networking, and training. Over the last year and a half, we have jump-started our efforts through in-person and virtual events, our online platform and resource library, and beyond. We’re excited to build on that momentum with a brand-new national RLF workshop series in 2026.
Supporting Brownfield RLFs
Since launching the EPA RLF TAB, we have been busy listening and convening EPA RLF grantees to build new resources and navigate challenges, including:
- EPA RLF TAB Online Platform: We launched an online platform and resource library, now with more than 130 members, which serves as the hub for our technical assistance, including forums for members to ask peers questions and beyond. If you haven’t joined yet, you can sign up now.
- National Brownfields Training Conference Pre-Conference Workshop: We hosted our first in-person event ahead of the National Brownfields Training Conference in Chicago last August. We had more than 130 attendees participate in roundtable discussions, heard from a panel of successful RLFs, and even played Brownfields RLF Trivia!
In addition to these efforts, we’ve sought to provide EPA RLF grantees with additional support, including monthly open office hours, a new RLF essentials webinar series, and on-demand technical assistance for any questions or obstacles that arise.
Over the last year, the EPA RLF TAB has reached more than 400 individuals from 48 states and territories, including more than 100 Brownfields RLF grantees. We will broaden and deepen this reach with Brownfields RLFs through our 2026 workshop series.
2026 Workshop Series Locations and Schedule
Building on our support for Brownfield RLFs, we are excited to host four in-person, no-cost RLF workshops in 2026. Hosted in four different regions, this hands-on workshop series brings the Brownfields RLF teams together for focused learning, practical exercises, and peer-to-peer exchange. Each of these workshops will take place over a day and a half and will provide attendees with core knowledge on working effectively with developers, project pipeline development, underwriting approaches, and RLF process and policies. Designed for both new and experienced RLF grantees, these workshops will include hands-on instruction through real-world scenarios, insightful EPA RLF success stories, and peer-learning opportunities with other EPA RLF Teams.
The workshop series includes:
- Louisville, Kentucky RLF Workshop | April 21-22, 2026 @ The Seelbach Hilton Louisville: Register here.
- Portland, Maine RLF Workshop | May 28-29, 2026 @ Holiday Inn Portland – By the Bay: Register here.
- New Orleans, Louisiana RLF Workshop | October 6-7, 2026 @ The Intercontinental New Orleans: Register here.
- Clark County, Nevada RLF Workshop | December 8-9, 2026 @ AC Hotel Symphony Park Las Vegas: Register here.
Thinking about joining us? To maximize reaching EPA RLF grantees, registration for each of these workshops is national, and participants can select their preferred workshop based on what’s closest to them or on dates that work for their calendars. We’ve designed these workshops to be very similar, but with some local examples and flavor, so we advise just attending one of the four workshops. If you can, don’t come alone! Given the interactive nature of our sessions and the peer learning opportunities, we recommend bringing members of your team or local stakeholders join you at the workshop to help with implementation afterwards.
Looking for other ways to get involved in the RLF workshops? We have a range of sponsorships available to support the entire workshop series and the individual workshops. If you are interested in sponsoring, you can email us at epa-rlf-tab@growamerica.org.
Register Today!
The workshop is free to participants. Once you have picked which workshops you would like to attend, you can secure your spot by completing the short registration form for each workshop. We cannot wait to see you there!
And after these workshops, stay tuned for Brownfield RLF activities at the 2027 National Brownfields Training Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.
If you have any additional questions, you can read through our Workshop series FAQs or email us at epa-rlf-tab@growamerica.org.
This Technical Assistance for Brownfields Collaboration is operated by Grow America using Federal funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the EPA.