The BIG Program offers three categories of grants:

• for projects eligible for the NYC Voluntary Cleanup Program, known as Qualifying Brownfield Projects
• for affordable housing and other community-supported projects, known as Preferred Community Development Projects
• bonus grants which increase grant awards to Voluntary Cleanup Program projects

Qualifying Brownfield Projects - Maximum grant: $25,000

Grant	Description	Amount
Pre-Development Grant	Pays for a wide range of due diligence and design tasks that generally precede an environmental investigation of a property.	$5,000
Environmental Investigation Grant	Pays for an environmental investigation at any property in NYC.	$10,000
Cleanup Grant	Pays for any approved remedial work undertaken at a site in the Voluntary Cleanup Program.	$25,000

Preferred Community Development Projects - Maximum grant: $35,000 or $50,000

Grant	Description	Amount
Non-Profit Technical Assistance Grant	Pays for a wide range of pre-development activities by a non-profit developer of an affordable housing or other Preferred Community Development Project.	$5,000
Pre-Development Grant	Pays for due diligence and design tasks of a Preferred Community Development Project that generally precede an environmental investigation of a property.	$10,000
Environmental Investigation Grant	Pays for environmental investigation tasks at a property that will be the site of a Preferred Community Development Project.	$25,000
Cleanup Grant	Pays for remedial work performed under an OER-approved remedy. The grant is $35,000 unless a non-profit developer builds a Preferred Community Development Project or the residential portion of the development is 100% affordable housing. In both cases, the grant is $50,000.	$35,000 or $50,000

Bonus Grants

Grant	Description	Amount
Track 1 Cleanup Grant	Awarded to projects in the NYC VCP where soil across an entire site attains New York State's unrestricted use soil standards.	$10,000
Resilience Grant	Awarded to projects in the NYC VCP that complete cleanups in a designated coastal flood zone.	$10,000
Community-Directed Strategic Site Grant	A development site in the NYC VCP that a Community Brownfield Planning organization recognizes as strategic to the community's revitalization is eligible for this grant.	$10,000

For more information about the eligibility requirements for NYC BIG grants, see §43-1418(d) of the BIG program rule.

Owners and developers who seek NYC Brownfield Incentive Grants must ensure their development projects maintain required insurance for the activities for which they seek reimbursement. After identifying the type of BIG grant, refer to the Insurance Fact Sheet and Insurance Memo to determine what type of insurance coverage is required.

The BIG Program requires that most fundable services and activities be performed by a qualified professional who is registered as a Qualified Vendor with the BIG Program Administrator. The BIG Program encourages qualified professionals in a wide range of vocations, including environmental consultants, attorneys, registered architects, certified planners, grant writers, licensed insurance brokers, and not-for-profit service providers, to apply to the Qualified Vendor list. 

The application process to become a Qualified Vendor is managed solely by the BIG Program Administrator and is non-competitive. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. To apply, complete a Qualified Vendor Application and email it to grants@nycbig.info.