News & Events
Plan Your Brownfields 2023 Sessions
Brownfields 2023 is coming up quickly (August 8–11, Detroit, MI), and its exciting educational program has been announced! Don’t miss your chance to register and take in the following sessions with members of Vita Nuova[...]
Jul
2023 Grant Funding Announced
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that approximately $169 million in funding is available for Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants under the Fiscal Year 2023 grant competitions. This funding, which[...]
Sep
EDA Funding Opportunity Alert
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has announced two new notices of funding opportunities: the FY 2022 CARES Act Economic Recovery Corps and the Equity Impact Investment program. These two programs are designed to support underserved[...]
Jul
Join us at Brownfields 2022!
Brownfields 2022 is coming up quickly! It will take place in Oklahoma City from August 16–19. The passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allotted $1.5 billion to the EPA Brownfields Program, makes this a[...]
Apr
Watch It Again: The Katahdin Region Former Mill Funding Strategy Workshop
This workshop brought together representatives from the mill communities of East Millinocket, Millinocket, and Lincoln with federal, state, and private funders. In this interactive session, representatives of the communities met virtually with those that might[...]
Feb
EPA Releases 2021 Brownfields Federal Programs Guide
Need additional public funding? Updated every two years, the EPA’s Brownfields Federal Programs Guide is an essential resource for communities looking to finance brownfields redevelopment projects. When considering the funding available, it’s important for stakeholders[...]
Feb
Brownfields 2022 Dates Announced
The new Brownfields Conference dates have been announced! The event will be held August 16–19, 2022 in Oklahoma City, OK and will feature presentations by several Vita Nuova and Redevelopment Institute members. If your work involves brownfields or community[...]
Jan
EPA Adds Two Guides to Land Revitalization Toolkit
Redevelopment of a blighted or contaminated site is not an easy task, however, there are steps you can take to reduce the risks involved in the process and attract the right investment. To that end, in[...]
Dec
Register Now: “Show Me How: Brownfields Redevelopment in Economically Distressed Areas”
The Real Estate Development Academy (RE-Development Academy) is hosting a series of webinars and a Brownfields Conference workshop focused on successful redevelopment practices at some of the toughest sites in the country. Part 3 of the Fall[...]
Nov
RE-Development Academy Announces Fall Webinar Series and Brownfields Conference Workshop
The Real Estate Development Academy (RE-Development Academy) is hosting a series of webinars and a Brownfields Conference workshop focused on successful redevelopment practices at some of the toughest sites in the country. The changing economic[...]
Aug
Webinar Series Coming this Fall: Catalyzing Redevelopment in Economically Distressed Areas
A Three-Part Webinar Series offered by EMS and Vita Nuova, LLC in conjunction with US EPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization The Real Estate Development Academy Program (RE-Development Academy) is hosting a series of[...]
Jul
Save the Date: 2021 Brownfields Training Conference
The ICMA-EPA National Brownfields Training Conference will be held December 8-11, 2021 in Oklahoma City, OK. More information and updates are available on the conference website. Registration will open August 9th.
Port Covington: An Inside Look at a $5B+ Baltimore Redevelopment
Catch the replay of a February 2021 webinar featuring Professor Barry Hersh of NYU’s Schack Institute of Real Estate and other distinguished panelists discussing the redevelopment of Port Covington in Baltimore.
May
Opportunity Zone Prospectus for Belfast, Maine
Investor alert! An Opportunity Zone Prospectus has been developed for the city of Belfast, Maine. Situated in the heart of Maine’s coastal region, Belfast is located 45 miles from Maine’s capital of Augusta, 30 miles[...]
Apr
EPA Releases Superfund Site and Opportunity Zone Fact Sheet
by guest blogger Kat West of Skeo Solutions On November 1, 2020, EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Program released a fact sheet that promotes opportunity zones to help revitalize contaminated and formerly contaminated property, including Superfund sites. Often called[...]
Nov
On Demand Webinar: Market Insights for Brownfield Redevelopment–Trends in the COVID-19 Era
Gain insights on how residential and commercial markets have been affected by COVID-19, and what communities can do not to help themselves take advantage of current or forecasted market trends when considering brownfields redevelopment. Webinar[...]
Oct
EPA Announces FY2021 Brownfields Program Grants RFP
EPA’s Brownfields Program provides funds to empower states, communities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations to prevent, inventory, assess, clean up, and reuse brownfield sites. A brownfield site is defined as real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or[...]
Aug
Rebuilding America Webinar #2 – The Oakley Story: From Cul-de-Sac to Regional Hub
This is an evolving story of how a small town in California banded together with an industrial owner of a former manufacturing site and a developer to create a dynamic new job center. Working together,[...]
Aug
Opportunity Zones by the Numbers
Watch the recording of this webinar. Opportunity Zones have received a lot of press, both good and bad. They are a new way to attract large-scale investments to tough parts of the country. However, understanding[...]
Jul
Rebuilding America Webinar #1 – Taking the Long View: Rebuilding Communities is a Marathon Not a Sprint!
The ReGenesis Partnership in Spartanburg, SC, has worked to rebuild and revitalize the Arkwright community for the past 20 years. This effort has involved a multi-stakeholder partnership composed of representatives of Federal, State, and local[...]
Jun
Podcast
Episode 15 – Buildings that Create Jobs: Exploring Business Incubators w/ Tom Mancuso
In this episode, Vita Nuova member Tom Mancuso discusses the key elements of taking a business incubator approach to creating local, long-lasting jobs for a community while recycling industrial and commercial properties. Based[...]
Nov
Episode 14 – A Visionary Journey through Brownfields Redevelopment w/ Patricia Overmeyer
Patricia Overmeyer is the Deputy Director of the EPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization. A pioneer in the field, she has been a leader in shaping brownfield redevelopment policies and implementation[...]
Jul
Episode 13 – Land Stewardship Tech Expands Brownfields Redevelopment Opportunities w/ Bob Wenzlau and Mike Sowinski
In the latest episode of Redevelopment Trailblazers, we talk to Bob Wenzlau, President and Founder of Palo Alto-based Terradex, and Mike Sowinski, the company’s Vice President, about the critical role that land use[...]
May
Episode 12 – The Power of Solar on Brownfield Sites w/ Annika Colston
What do closed landfills, sand and gravel pits, quarries, and formerly-mined coal sites all have in common? They are all candidates for solar development. In this episode of Redevelopment Trailblazers,[...]
Mar
Episode 11 – The Economic Transformation of the South Bronx w/ Neil Pariser
The South Bronx has undergone an exciting transformation over the course of many years. In this episode of Redevelopment Trailblazers, we get a first-hand account from Neil Pariser, the former[...]
Feb
Episode 10 – What the Brownfields Redevelopment Story Tells Us About the Future of Environmental Policy w/ Mary Ann Grena Manley
EPA’s brownfields program is a policy innovation success story. For decades, the program has empowered communities and other stakeholders to clean up and reuse contaminated sites safely. With increased data[...]
Jan
Episode 9 – Recasting Your City w/ Ilana Preuss
What is small-scale manufacturing, and how can it bring Main Streets and downtowns back to life? In this episode of the Redevelopment Institute Podcast, Leslie Parrish interviews Ilana Preuss, Founder and[...]
Nov
Episode 8 – Expanding the Brownfields Redevelopment Table w/ Jean Hamerman and Joelle Greenland
In this episode of the Redevelopment Institute Podcast, Leslie Parrish interviews Jean Hamerman and Joelle Greenland from the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR). CCLR is a national nonprofit focused[...]
Jul
Episode 7 – From Regulator to Developer: A Unique Perspective w/ Colleen Kokas
Colleen Kokas, EVP at Environmental Liability Transfer (ELT), discusses the multi-disciplinary aspects of site remediation in this episode of the Redevelopment Institute Podcast. As a former regulator and brownfields project manager for[...]
Jun
Episode 6 – Engaging the Stakeholders w/ Tim Fields
In this episode, we talk with Tim Fields, whose brownfields experience spans decades. Mr. Fields served as the Assistant Administrator for OSWER at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, helping to create[...]
May
Episode 5 – Appreciating Appalachia w/ Will Warren
Will Warren is on a mission to spread the word about the culture, community, and economic opportunity in Appalachia—a region made up of 13 states and home to over 25[...]
Apr
Episode 4 – Making Green Construction Possible w/ Jon Williams
Today’s podcast features long-time brownfield redeveloper Jon Williams, who recently founded Viridi Parente, a company that manufactures electric-powered drive systems for construction vehicles and related equipment. Jon discusses his experiences in[...]
Mar
Episode 3 – The Past and Future of Brownfields Redevelopment w/ Barry Hersh
Barry Hersh’s experiences as a leader in brownfields redevelopment are the focus of this episode of the Redevelopment Institute Podcast. In his interview with Leslie Parrish, Barry talks about how[...]
Feb
Episode 2 – Economic Gardening® w/ Chris Gibbons
In this episode of the Redevelopment Institute Podcast, Leslie Parrish interviews Chris Gibbons, founder of the National Center for Economic Gardening. Chris describes this exciting economic development strategy, which can[...]
Jan
Episode 1 – The Vision of the Redevelopment Institute w/ Michael B. Taylor
In our inaugural episode, Leslie Parrish interviews Michael B. Taylor, the founder of the Redevelopment Institute and Vita Nuova, LLC. Throughout this podcast, we’ll be discussing best practices in brownfields[...]
Dec
Courses
Show Me How: Brownfields Redevelopment in Economically Distressed Areas
As part of USEPA’s Re-Development Academy, part 3 of the 3-part webinar series focused on successful brownfield redevelopments in economically distressed areas. Each site story explained site conditions prior to[...]
Apr
Risky Business: Overcoming Challenges to Attracting Investment at Brownfield Sites
As part of USEPA’s Re-Development Academy, part 2 of the 3-part webinar series discussed addressing risks upfront when preparing to attract investment at brownfield sites. Redevelopment of brownfields in economically[...]
Nov
Removing the Barriers: Repositioning Brownfields Sites for Success
As part of USEPA’s Re-Development Academy, part 1 of the 3-part webinar series discusses how repositioning can make the difference between redevelopments that succeed and those that fail—and it’s[...]
Oct
Course: A Strategic Framework for Sustainable Brownfield Redevelopment
A series of on-demand tutorials that outline a logical and structured framework to support the sustainable reuse of brownfield and underutilized properties. The Strategic Framework for Sustainable Brownfield Redevelopment course[...]
May
Redevelopment Series: Aligning the Stars in Opportunity Zones
Hear the latest on IRS clarifications on Opportunity Zones and discover how smaller, rural and tough communities are using this tool to attract investment. Join the conversation in re-positioning your[...]
Apr
Course: Green and Sustainable Remediation: More Than a Primer
This course introduces green and sustainable remediation (GSR) and describes incorporating GSR concepts into remediation and redevelopment projects. The course critically reviews available tools and resources and shows how to[...]
Apr
Course: Urban, Suburban, and Regional Planning Practice
Join David Kooris, as he illustrates the sustainability and livability challenges and opportunities faced by America’s suburban communities and urban centers. Join David Kooris, AICP (Director of the Office of[...]
Apr
Redevelopment Series: How to Create and Maintain a Successful Brownfields Program in Your Community
Brownfields expert Kathy Castagna and Hallowell, ME City Manager Nate Rudy present tactics to create and maintain successful brownfields programs. Brownfields expert Kathy Castagna and Hallowell, ME City Manager Nate[...]
Apr
Redevelopment Series: Strategies for Building Demand in Tough Markets
This webinar focuses on creative approaches to attracting development in places like Gary Indiana, Toledo Ohio, and the South Bronx, NY. Tough markets remain across the United States, From small[...]
Apr
Redevelopment Series: Economic Development from the State and Local Perspective
In this webinar, presenter David J. Robinson, principal of The Montrose Group LLC, discusses the history of the global economy and how economics are involved in redevelopment. This webinar will[...]
Apr
Redevelopment Series: Opportunity Zones – What Happens Next?
New Opportunity Zone regulations will take effect in March—make sure you’re prepared to hit the ground running! Brad Carney, partner at the firm of Maraziti Falcon, L.L.P. and Redevelopment Institute[...]
Apr
Knowledge Center
USDA Rural Development Launches Placemaking Toolkit
USDA Rural Development and The University of Kentucky have launched a new digital placemaking toolkit for rural communities. This will allow leaders across America to access resources that will assist[...]
Jun
New Rural Community Resources Guide Available
The USDA and EDA have teamed up to offer assistance in improving communities as places to live and work. This new guide outlines the programs available to help community organizations[...]
May
The Race for Industrial Space
The need for industrial logistics space has never been higher. In compiled research by JLL across sixty US markets, vacancy rates for warehouse space is the lowest on record. Fueling[...]
May
“Appalachia Meets World” with Will Warren
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the word Appalachia? Often people think of the challenges or the despair they have read or heard about.[...]
Apr
Beyond the Tesla: Resilient Energy Storage and Deployment
Teslas and other electric cars have quickly become popular among consumers who want to reduce their carbon footprint without compromising performance. But what about other types of vehicles and equipment,[...]
Mar
Economic Gardening® in Practice: Two Regions’ Experiences
As detailed in a prior post, Economic Gardening® is a strategy that identifies innovative local companies that—with some guidance—have substantial potential. Companies that successfully complete the program can benefit from[...]
Dec
Brownfields Safe Reuse and Investment Packages: A Roadmap for Communities
Redevelopment of a blighted or contaminated site is not an easy task, however, there are steps you can take to reduce the risks involved in the process and attract the[...]
Oct
Economic Gardening®: Nurturing High-Potential Local Companies for Job Growth
When you think of economic development strategies, your mind may first go to a local or state agency offering a bevy of tax incentives and other financial goodies to a[...]
Oct
Webinar Series Coming this Fall: Catalyzing Redevelopment in Economically Distressed Areas
A Three-Part Webinar Series offered by EMS and Vita Nuova, LLC in conjunction with US EPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization The Real Estate Development Academy Program (RE-Development Academy)[...]
Jul
Brownfield Redevelopment in Action: Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is an Ohio town known for auto manufacturing, including renowned products such as the U.S. military Jeep. In 2015, Jeep announced that there would no longer be a need[...]
May
Is a Zero Carbon Economy Possible?
President Biden’s promise to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 sounds like a wonderful goal, but is it really feasible? In his Bloomberg article, Dave Merrill makes the[...]
May
Opinion: Targeted Brownfield Redevelopment–Part of Building Back Better
In his recent op-ed, Roger Martella agrees with the strategy laid out in President Biden’s Build Back Better plan to focus public investments on the most dire brownfield sites in[...]
May
EPA Releases Report Showing Benefits of Brownfield Redevelopment
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization recently released a report with findings on the environmental benefits of brownfield redevelopment. The study compared environmental impacts of[...]
Feb
EPA Releases Superfund Site and Opportunity Zone Fact Sheet
by guest blogger Kat West of Skeo Solutions On November 1, 2020, EPA’s Superfund Redevelopment Program released a fact sheet that promotes opportunity zones to help revitalize contaminated and formerly contaminated property,[...]
Nov
Heartland Institute Ranks Micropolitan Regions by Their Dynamism
Earlier this month, Heartland Forward released its annual report highlighting the country’s most dynamic micropolitan regions—defined as communities with a population between 10,000 and 50,000 people. Consistent with the organization’s[...]
Oct
EPA Announces FY2021 Brownfields Program Grants RFP
EPA’s Brownfields Program provides funds to empower states, communities, tribes, and nonprofit organizations to prevent, inventory, assess, clean up, and reuse brownfield sites. A brownfield site is defined as real[...]
Aug
Using CPTED Design Principles to Create Safer Neighborhoods: Establishing a Baseline of Data
As our nation debates a range of public safety and policing issues, the planning community can do its part by creating built environments that intentionally deter crime. The National Institute[...]
Jul
How to Avoid Common Economic Recovery Mistakes
Changing a site to something productive takes vision and persistence over a long period of time. This type of work also requires new and creative partnerships. The Overland Jeep 80-acre[...]
Jul
Creative Solar Investment Partnership Yields Community Benefits
Changing a site to something productive takes vision and persistence over a long period of time. This type of work also requires new and creative partnerships. The Overland Jeep 80-acre[...]
Jun
IRS Extends Deadlines for Qualified Opportunity Zone Investors
On June 4, 2020, the Department of Treasury and IRS issued Notice 2020-39. This Notice modifies the deadlines contained in Notice 2020-23 as described in my May 21st article. The[...]
Jun