The Department of Environmental Protection invites municipal, township and borough leaders, county and city planners, redevelopment authorities, community leaders, and economic and industrial development agencies to a seminar, What All Local Governments Need to Know about Brownfields, on May 2.

The seminar is offered free of charge and will be from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at DEP’s Northwest Regional Office, located at 230 Chestnut Street in Meadville.  Lunch will be provided.

The half-day seminar will focus on how to breathe life into abandoned and vacant properties. Participants will learn about successful brownfield redevelopment projects in their area, learn the basics of brownfields, find out where public funding is available and how to apply for it, and network with other municipal organizations.

Brownfields are properties that are in need of expansion, redevelopment or reuse, but because of actual or anticipated hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants, that work is made more challenging.

Pennsylvania’s approach to brownfields redevelopment has proven to be a national model for transforming abandoned, idle properties into places of environmental protection and economic opportunity.

This workshop is produced in partnership with the Department of Community and Economic Development. It is funded by a brownfield grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Space is limited, so registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please register in advance. Online registration is available..

For more information, visit DEP’s Land Recycling Program webpage or contact Kim Hoover at 717-783-1566 or send email to: khoover@pa.gov. 

4/7/2014