Building Sustainable Communities:
Revitalizing Your City

Many cities in the Northeast Midwest have a rich industrial past with their economies tied to heavy industry. Over time, these cities have experienced a decline in population and lost jobs leaving increased vacancies of residential, commercial and industrial properties. How do you rebuild these towns in a sustainable manner so that they attract entrepreneurs and creative talent? This one day workshop will explore the answer to this question and provide practical solutions for creating sustainable communities. The instructors will exchange ideas, share experience and show case studies of cities that have transitioned to become vibrant again using the tools presented. Specifically, you will learn about demographic trends and place making, the benefits of creating a local land bank to assemble small parcels of land into larger tracks for redevelopment, end use strategies for putting assembled lands into productive use and the government resources that are available.

Who Should Attend?

• Elected Officials from state and local government
• Executives from Port Authorities
• Professionals from cities and state agencies involved with finance, urban planning, economic development, sustainability
• Professionals (architects, engineers, lawyers planners, environmental consultants, insurance, etc)
• Real Estate Developers
• Community Leaders responsible for Sustainable Growth

Sustainable Communities Workshop Goals:

• Encourage properties to be cleaned up and sustainably developed
• Improve communications – teach practitioners how to be more conversant in “green,” brownfield redevelopment and sustainable terminology, techniques and processes.
• Connect land and air programs to promote sustainability
• Learn green terminology
• Learn best practices, available tools, key concepts and approaches to incorporate green building practices on brownfield sites
• Learn strategies to rebuild your cities today
• Learn approaches to make cost benefit decisions and what green initiatives that give you the best return on your investment
• Learn about available federal, state, and local incentives to finance urban redevelopment and sustainable initiatives

Instructors We have created a team of professionals that instruct each workshop. The team varies for each location to provide you with information that is specific to the state and city in which the workshop is offered. The Team consists of a local team of experts from the EPA, State and local government and a national expert. The Team has expertise in finance, real estate development, sustainability, brownfield redevelopment and federal, state and local government programs. Although the team varies for each location to provide you with information that is specific to the state and city in which the workshop is offered, the core members consists of experts from the US EPA, State and local government and a national expert. Instructors has expertise in finance, real estate development, sustainability, brownfield redevelopment and federal, state and local government programs. A limited number of scholarships are available to employees who work in government (state agencies, municipalities), non-profits and academic institutions. Proof of status is required.

Cost: $95 for NBA Members $195 for non-members This fee includes admission for the full day, course material, continental breakfast and lunch, and post-course access to the NBA web site with references and government funding sources. Click here to register for the April 19, 2012 Piqua, OH event online (PDF application). For more information, please contact Mary Hereford at 224.567.6790 or maryh@brownfieldassociation.org. This workshop was developed using funds provided by the U.S. EPA.