EPA Grants $500K to Revitalize Southwest Houston and Ford Bend Communities

Congressman Al Green (D) announced a $500,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant that will help identify and assess environmentally impacted properties in Southwest Houston and Fort Bend County, paving the way for future redevelopment and economic investment.

What funding was announced?

Rep. Green announced that the Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend Redevelopment Authority (HCFBRA) will receive a $500,000 federal grant through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Community-Wide Brownfield Assessment Grant Program.

The funding will support redevelopment efforts throughout Fort Bend County and Southwest Houston. According to the EPA, the funding will be used for:

• Environmental site assessments.
• Community engagement efforts.
• Redevelopment planning.
• Identifying properties suitable for future revitalization projects.

Officials say the work is intended to encourage future private investment while improving neighborhood safety and environmental health in historically underserved communities.

What Green is saying

Congressman Green said the investment will help create new opportunities for neighborhoods that have experienced years of underinvestment.

Rep. Al Green: "I am proud to have worked to help secure this federal funding for the communities I represent because the people of Hiram Clarke and Fort Bend County deserve neighborhoods that are healthy, safe, and positioned for opportunity."

Rep. Green continued: "This grant will help identify and assess properties for future development, creating a pathway toward revitalization, economic growth, and a better quality of life."

The Bottom Line

The $500,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant will help the Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend Redevelopment Authority evaluate environmentally impacted properties across Southwest Houston and Fort Bend County, laying the groundwork for future redevelopment, economic investment, and healthier communities.