The Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG) program is reshaping brownfield redevelopment by prioritizing projects in low-income and environmental justice communities, emphasizing equity, transparency, and community benefits.

The Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG) program, launched in 2021 by California's Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), represents a major shift in how the state approaches brownfield cleanup and reuse. Prioritizing environmental justice and equitable development, ECRG was designed to serve communities disproportionately burdened by pollution and disinvestment. The Othering & Belonging Institute at the University of California, Berkeley recently released a report that assesses the program’s early implementation, examining how its design influenced project selection and outcomes, and how it differs from traditional approaches to brownfields redevelopment.
With over $129 million awarded across 90 projects, ECRG has shown early signs of success in aligning cleanup efforts with community needs. Compared to a sample of 108 non-ECRG brownfield projects, ECRG-funded efforts were more likely to be led by public or nonprofit entities, include robust community engagement, and be located in low-income or environmental justice communities. Projects supported by ECRG also placed a stronger emphasis on equitable outcomes, such as affordable housing, local workforce development, and community-centered reuse like parks and gardens.
The program’s design and execution reflected a collaborative and adaptive model, incorporating feedback from partners like the California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) to improve equity and accountability. While it is too early to fully evaluate long-term impacts, ECRG stands out as a promising model for integrating equity into brownfields policy and practice. Findings of the report offer valuable insights for California and other states seeking to transform contaminated lands into assets that serve—and are shaped by—the communities most affected.
FULL STORY: Greater Social Equity in Brownfields Cleanup and Reuse

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

LA’s Tree Emergency Goes Beyond Vandalism
After a vandal destroyed dozens of downtown LA trees, Mayor Karen Bass vowed to replace them. Days later, she slashed the city’s tree budget.

Sacramento Leads Nation With Bus-Mounted Bike Lane Enforcement Cameras
The city is the first to use its bus-mounted traffic enforcement system to cite drivers who park or drive in bike lanes.

Seattle Voters Approve Social Housing Referendum
Voters approved a corporate tax to fund the city’s housing authority despite an opposition campaign funded by Amazon and Microsoft.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service