Vita Nuova Expands Small Town Coaching to Support New Community Revitalization Efforts

Vita Nuova is proud to support revitalization efforts in four new communities: Memphis, MO; Nashua, IA; Onaga, KS; and Firebaugh, CA. These efforts are part of a Small Town Coaching project to help small towns[...]

Introducing the New Redevelopment Trailblazers Webinar Series

In keeping with the tradition of providing cutting-edge information about redevelopment trends, the Redevelopment Institute is reinaugurating the webinar series that started in 2006! Now called the Redevelopment Trailblazers Webinar Series, the program will continue[...]

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[...]

EPA’s Revitalization-Ready Guide Assists Communities with Brownfields Redevelopment Projects

Vita Nuova provided significant support to EPA’s Land Revitalization program in developing its Revitalization-Ready Guide, which describes the process communities will go through to redevelop contaminated, idle, and underused properties (brownfield sites). Designed for local[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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.

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

Episode 18 – Reimagining Appalachia: Transforming Shuttered Coal Plants into Community Assets w/Wendy Patton and Jesse Roush

Episode 17 – Coming Together to Facilitate Redevelopment: The Surplus Property Roundtable w/Mike Goldstein and Mike Malley

Mike Goldstein and Mike Malley join the Redevelopment Trailblazers podcast to talk about the Surplus Property Roundtable  (SPR) – a consortium made up of real estate and environmental managers from Fortune 500 companies who[...]

Episode 16 – Revitalizing Energy Communities w/Brian Anderson

In this episode, Brian Anderson joins the podcast to discuss how the Energy Communities Interagency Working Group helps communities impacted by coal mine and coal power plant closures transition to new economic opportunities.[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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,[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

Shaping Our Appalachian Region: A Nonprofit Driving Population Growth in Eastern Kentucky

The coal industry has historically been a major economic driver in regions like Eastern Kentucky, providing jobs and fueling local economies. For decades, however, the industry has experienced a significant decline due to factors of[...]

Reviving Buildings That Create Jobs – June 21, 2024

Empty industrial buildings can be transformed into economic engines. The world’s first business incubator was started in a recycled brownfield factory in 1959. Obsolete, old industrial, commercial, and institutional properties can be filled with businesses[...]

Exploring Strategies for Sustainable Redevelopment of Industrial Properties from the Corporate Perspective – April 19, 2024 12pm ET

(See recording below) Industrial property owners often face the challenge of having closed facilities and retired assets that are strong candidates for repurposing but are hindered by legacy contamination and other issues that complicate redevelopment.[...]

The Power of Partnerships: Exploring ULI’s Homeless to Housed Initiative – Friday, February 23, 12-1 PM ET

In 2022, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) launched its Homeless to Housed (H2H) initiative through the release of its report “Homeless to Housed: The ULI Perspective.” The report, along with ULI’s growing H2H solutions library, showcases successful[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

“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.[...]

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,[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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)[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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,[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]