2024 WV Brownfields & Main Street Conference

This interactive workshop will provide information on the latest round of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Grants and will help participants interested in applying for an EPA Brownfields Grant later this fall. At this training, representatives from the WV Brownfields Assistance Centers, WV Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the EPA will be available to answer questions on the brownfield grant application, assessment, and cleanup process and new guidelines related to Bipartisan Infrastructure Funding (BIF) for brownfields, as well as tips on building a compelling story that will lead to a successful redevelopment project.

Advanced registration is requested and may be completed through the conference's Eventbrite for free.

The EPA Grantee Meeting is an opportunity for existing brownfield grantees and federal staff from EPA Region 3 and the WV Brownfields Assistance Centers to exchange ideas, provide feedback to one another, and encourage closer collaboration for brownfield redevelopment. The session will provide grantees with updates on federal programs, quality assurance, technical issues, and environmental justice.

Advanced registration is requested and may be completed through the conference's Eventbrite for free.

Advanced registration is required and may be completed through the conference's Eventbrite for $35.

Advanced registration is required and may be completed through the conference's Eventbrite for $35.

The Town of Fayetteville has been brought into the national spotlight with the designation of the New River Gorge as the newest National Park. With that spotlight, significant and important redevelopment projects are taking place or in the planning stages. Join our mobile workshop where we will tour several development projects, either recently completed or in the early stages of development. We will also discuss the Fayetteville Master Plan and how it will impact the community.

Advanced registration is required and may be completed through the conference's Eventbrite for $35.

Travel with us to the city of Richwood, once the center of commerce for the region, then impacted by downturns in the extraction industries and bypassed when the four-lane was developed 25 miles away. After times of challenge, the Richwood community has diligently responded in recent years - working to bring historic assets back on-line and fielding over 40 new businesses throughout the community. We will visit the notable “Milltown School”, walk the historic main street including stops at the Sculpture Garden, Rosewood Coffee Shop, Bloomfield Art Gallery, predevelopment activity at the former GC Murphy Building, and finishing with the unique Helios Park. On the way out of town we’ll make a final stop at the newly repurposed city armory – now an active community center. This is a community with a captivating history and a compelling current narrative. Let’s explore a genuine rural West Virginia success story in the making.

Join the WV Brownfields Assistance Centers and Platinum Sponsor Civil Environmental Consultants (CEC) for local beverages, food, and great networking with other redevelopment professionals.

First time at a Brownfields & Main Street Conference? New to this work in a partner organization? Gather with other first time attendees, as well as experienced staff to learn the ropes, make connections, and get ready to get the most out of the 2024 WV Brownfields & Main Street Conference.

We kick off the conference with a word from our host city's own Mayor Shafer.

Jeff Siegler has assisted hundreds of communities with their revitalization, economic sustainability, and community development over the course of his career. Utilizing a background in urban planning, downtown district management, revitalization, real estate, economics and organizational development, his diverse background and expertise lends a unique vantage point for addressing community concerns.

What Jeff lacks in patience and eloquence, he makes up for in passion and honesty. He believes revitalizing communities is the most important work we can do. Revitalization has the power to transform people’s lives by fostering a stronger sense of community. Revitalization enhances quality of life, it provides people with more enriching experiences, and Jeff has dedicated himself to killing apathy -- one town at a time.

See the possibilities for rehabilitation of historic buildings demonstrated by recent projects throughout the state in programs such as Opportunity Appalachia. Discuss the process that can make these projects successful and what pitfalls may await you as you progress through the renovation. What are some of the more common and challenging issues to watch out for when embarking on a historic tax credit rehabilitation?  What obstacles may be in your way? What tools are available to successfully overcome these hurdles? Who can help you navigate these troubled waters? And finally, how do you turn these credits into money (equity)? How can you attract investors, and do it within the guidelines of the program? What makes an investor comfortable enough to participate in your project?

The session will be a mix of presentation and panel discussion with welcome participation from the audience, along with a robust Q&A portion.

Brownfields 101: Successful redevelopment of brownfields starts with understanding the basics. This includes the basic definition, some redevelopment scenarios, available grant funding, and the importance of assembling a good team. Join us to see examples of brownfield sites, why they are a challenge, how they can be redeveloped, and resources to do so. 

With an inside perspective from the state and federal levels, this panel will provide you with updates from the agencies that impact your projects. Attend this session to learn about new federal and state regulations and resources from the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the WV Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP). Hear straight from these sources what programs and funding are available as well as how to connect with the agencies and programs that can help you with your brownfields project.

During lunch, attendees will hear from our keynote speaker, Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz!

The Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at the University of Maryland advances finance solutions to environmental challenges throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. EFC has several direct technical assistance programs (three of which will be focused on in this session) available to communities throughout West Virginia that can equip them with the knowledge and tools they need to create more sustainable environments, more resilient societies, and more robust economies. This session will inform attendees about the different programs and how to request support through them.

The Water Technical Assistance (Water TA) Program offers direct support to municipalities and water utilities to help them access federal and state funding to address water infrastructure needs. The program aims to increase the number of communities that can successfully access water infrastructure funding to ensure safe, reliable water systems for all. Assistance is available at any step in the process of pursuing water infrastructure funding, including identifying water challenges; developing plans; building technical, financial, and managerial capacity; and completing funding application materials. Projects can span drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, source water protection, nonpoint source, decentralized wastewater (e.g., septic systems), and/or Financial Capability Assessment (FCA) assistance.
 
The Building TMF Capacity for Small Water Systems Project works to build the Technical, Managerial, and Financial (TMF) capacity for small wastewater systems throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. In coordination with our national Environmental Finance Center Network we provide a variety of training tools, opportunities, and direct technical assistance to allow access for any water system personnel regardless of their often rural and remote locations.
 
The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program aims to provide grant funding to eligible applicants for the establishment of technical assistance centers nationwide. UMD EFC helps coordinate this initiative in the Mid-Atlantic region. These centers offer critical support to communities facing environmental justice concerns. If you are interested in working with our community hub partner West Virginia State University (WVSU) to support work in the Appalachian region, we are here to help connect you.

First, see a demonstration of the Property Abandonment Reclamation Tool (PART) by the West Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation.PART revolutionizes property redevelopment through a comprehensive GIS database, consolidating property information, assessment history, tax data, and more for informed decision-making. PART is the perfect aid in identifying brownfield sites for redevelopment, providing stakeholders with critical property data and history. Learn how PART streamlines access to diverse property information, empowering revitalization efforts and fostering vibrant communities.

Next, Bruce McDonald of McDonald & Bruce, LLC integrates historical aerial photography, maps, charts, and other geospatial data in brownfields projects. Learn how this data reduces risk for communities and developers alike, leading to increased project successes and lower operational costs. The techniques used are applicable to various environmental areas like ESG assessments, site assessments, due diligence, and ecosystem restoration.

While it is clearly recognized that recreation opportunity abounds in the state of West Virginia, rural economic achievement based on an inclusive tourism paradigm provides the strongest basis for success. In this session we will learn more about the Monongahela Forest Towns Partnership, hear from several Mon Forest Town participating communities, and be appraised of broader national  economic initiatives taking place in similar extraction industry impacted rural communities. “Quality of life has changed the dynamic…”  - our offerings must be attractive to the broadest visitor audience possible, so as to develop truly sustainable rural economies. Let’s discuss!

Having the right owner for a brownfield project might be the most important first link in the redevelopment chain. Brownfields often need to be transferred from a current owner for a variety of reasons, whether it’s qualifying for federal funding, increasing organizational capacity, or keeping options for future reuse open. Finding a match that will allow
project partners to work together and meet the unique needs of your project is key.

Carrie Staton from the Northern Brownfields Assistance Center, and Taylor Bennett from the WV Land Stewardship Corporation will take you through what to consider when looking for a brownfield property owner, different types of partnerships, and the kinds of agencies and organizations that can take on brownfield properties for remediation and redevelopment. You’ll get firsthand information and case studies as well as particulars about how to make these matches work.

Most prime waterfront properties were once highly sought real estate but for a different reason - heavy industry.  Many of these waterfront sites were eventually abandoned and vacant brownfields.  This session will highlight waterfront projects in communities throughout West Virginia that transformed brownfield sites from heavily industrialized properties into recreational successes.  

During this featured conference session, the poster gallery presenters will be interacting with attendees and answering questions about their posters on a wide variety of topics and case studies.

Join the WV Brownfields Assistance Centers and Platinum Sponsor Environmental Standards for local beverages, food, and great networking with other redevelopment professionals.

This session provides an opportunity to bring women in all aspects of brownfield development – environmental, community development, and economic development, to name a few – together to find ways to support one another in our professional development, as well as to encourage other women to enter the field.

Advanced registration is required and may be completed at the conference's Eventbrite for $10.

Sponsored by WesBanco

Andy Davis with New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) presents an overview of two local projects.

The Hatfield McCoy Trails is the largest motorized trail system in the eastern U.S.  Extensive growth continues in this recreational economy niche, including a record number of trail riders in 2023, with a huge majority coming from outside WV.  Jeffrey Lusk, Executive Director of the Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreational Authority, has learned a great deal during his many years at the head of this agency.  Jeffrey has taken a leading role in developing and growing this massive trail system into the economic driver it is today.  Jeff also brings over 28 years of service specializing in economic development and business financing as a Certified Economic Developer and Certified Community Planner.  His contributions to the larger recreational industry that plays a huge role in the overall economic standing of the State are unprecedented.  As Jeff prepares for retirement, he will share his observations on past growth, current obstacles, and future areas the State needs to focus on to continue growing its recreational economy.

Brownfield sites often pose health and safety risks to communities, but redevelopment can offer an array of social and economic benefits. Two aspects of brownfields redevelopment planning will be covered in this session.  Local growth and development are frequently driven by comprehensive planning, but the prevalence and extent of brownfield inclusion in comprehensive plans is unknown. The first half of this session will include a document analysis of four county and municipal comprehensive plans across West Virginia for existing brownfield strategy integration. Two of the plans included the term “brownfield,” but no plans provided a definition of the term. In some cases, brownfield concepts were discussed using other terminology, such as “abandoned” or “vacant.” No plans identified local brownfield sites. When brownfield-related goals, objectives, and action steps were identified, these aims primarily focused on housing needs and opportunities for housing rehabilitation. Timelines and related implementation tools were absent from discourse around brownfield aims. WV Code identifies thirteen mandatory topics and six optional topics to be included in comprehensive plans.  Planners and communities should consider engaging these topic areas when integrating brownfield strategies in future plans.

The second half of this presentation will focus on utilizing EPA Brownfields Assessment grant funding for conducting site and area redevelopment studies and activities that can be used to formulate and strengthen comprehensive plans. Returning a brownfield site to productive use often starts with understanding the local community, including local economic settings, infrastructure conditions, community goals, and social and environmental circumstances. Specific planning activities can help determine reuse feasibility options for a brownfield site and the target area. Examples of eligible planning activities will be reviewed from across the WV region. Session attendees will learn about the wide-ranging eligible activities that can be conducted with brownfields funding to help compile and move Comprehensive Plans forward while incorporating brownfield redevelopment strategies.

In this fast-paced session, learn about three projects on the forefront of brownfield and community development. These projects from across the region demonstrate how brownfields can be the launchpad for creative and innovative solutions on a wide range of issues. 
 
Save the Trees! Climate Change Mitigation and Resiliency
Brownfield sites often require soil cover or capping, resulting in the destruction of established trees, which provide climate change mitigation and resiliency via flood mitigation, erosion control, shade, and CO2 reduction. Hear how the Town of Bath used creative, common-sense solutions to the challenges of climate change as part of their brownfield cleanup.
  
Appalachian Futures Lab - A Creative Collaboration for Small Community Support 
There are many challenges that arise when working in small rural communities: lack of funding, limited resources, part time staff, needs that go well beyond Brownfields redevelopment, and many more. Hear how the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and Virginia Energy are partnering with Virginia Tech to create a new experience for students while supporting communities that need it most. The Appalachian Futures Lab serves as a fourth-year hands on design studio for architecture students at Virginia Tech, providing ideas and visions for the future of Pocahontas while enhancing the education and learning experiences of the next generation of Brownfield champions. 
 
Rural Partners Network in Action
Hear from the Rural Partners Network leadership on the intersection of Brownfields and Downtown redevelopment including examples of how communities in RPN are using brownfield and downtown development to address the Network’s priority areas: Workforce Development, Economic Development, Housing, Health & Wellness.

The WV Brownfield Awards recognize the hard work and great achievements in brownfields redevelopment from across the state. These awards recognize individuals and communities who have made major contributions to the redevelopment of brownfields in West Virginia. Recipients of the 2024 WV Brownfields Awards will be honored in an award ceremony.

We end the conference with closing remarks from Director of the WV Brownfields Assistance Center and Marshall University, George Carico.

Advanced registration is required for this FREE workshop through the conference's Eventbrite.