Indiana officials now have more money to fund the redevelopment of polluted properties around the state known as brownfields.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded the Indiana Finance Authority $500,000 to supplement the state’s Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund, a move that could help communities remediate environmental contamination in former industrial and commercial properties targeted for redevelopment.

“EPA’s brownfields program is providing critical funding to help empower communities to address the environmental, public health and social issues associated with contaminated land,” said acting EPA Region 5 administrator Cheryl Newton. “EPA commends community leaders for using these funds to take vital steps forward to improve the environment and the local economy. These grants underscore EPA’s commitment to lifting up and protecting all communities — especially overburdened and underserved communities.”

In May the EPA also awarded three Hoosier communities hundreds of thousands of dollars for brownfield development.

The city of Bloomington and Union City each received $300,000 for environmental site assessments and the development of cleanup plans. Clarksville was awarded $800,000 to clean up two sites and create cleanup plans for four sites.