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Minnesota Brownfields News
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State of Brownfields Update
July 17, Minneapolis More info and registration here
Brownfields WorkshopCoalition of Greater MN Cities Conference July 24, Bemidji Workshop registration info below and here
U.S. EPA ARC grantwriting workshop
Co-hosted by Minnesota Brownfields
August 12, St. Cloud
More info and registration info below
EDAM Summer Networking Event
2013 ReScape Awards
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The ReScape Awards recognizes exceptional brownfield projects completed statewide. Nominations are open now and will be accepted until September 13, 2013.
Click here for project eligibility criteria and nomination instructions. Questions? Call 651-307-4371. |
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Brownfields Gap Financing Available through Hennepin County
Hennepin County offers the Brownfield Gap Financing program, which provides small grants to nonprofits for environmental assessment and clean-up of property in Hennepin County. Funding comes through the County's Environmental Response Fund. Since May, when Minnesota Brownfields joined the County as the program's nonprofit partner, the program has achieved its highest ever rate of grantmaking. More than $77K in grants have been made out of an initial $150,000 allocation. More information about the program and project eligibility can be found here.
Brownfields Session at Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities Conference
Minnesota Brownfields will present a brownfield redevelopment session with the Department of Employment and Economic Development and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency at the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) Summer Conference in Bemidji on July 24. CGMC is making the brownfields session available for free to Minnesota Brownfields members. Registration info for this session is available here. The program agenda is here. There may still be openings for interested vendors; click here for further information.
EPA Brownfields Grant Proposal Writing Strategies
Minnesota Brownfields will co-host a workshop for communities and their grant writers primarily interested in applying for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assessment (Community-Wide, Site-Specific or Coalition), and/or Cleanup Grants. The workshop will assist participants with detailing response strategies to threshold and Ranking Criteria, utilizing the TAB EZ on-line grant writing tool, discussing the planning process, and engaging the community and partners in the Brownfields initiative.
When: Monday, August 12
Where: St. Cloud City Hall Council Chambers
Who should attend? Local and regional government officials, not-for-profit economic and community development organizations interested in learning how to write competitive EPA Brownfields Proposals. The program runs most of the day; a full program agenda will be sent out soon.
To register: email a name, organization, address, phone, and e-mail address for each registrant with subject heading "St. Cloud Grant Writing Workshop" to [email protected] (preferred) or call 785-532-6519.
Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary Breaks Ground
 A groundbreaking celebration, pictured at right, was held in June at St. Paul's Trout Brook (Trillium) Nature Sanctuary, located west of I-35E between Norpac Road and Cayuga Avenue. The vision of creating a nature preserve within the heart of a heavily urbanized area is now becoming a reality. Construction at Trout Brook will continue through 2014. Throughout the development of the park, a major aspect of the development is the creation of a stream channel segment that will run the length of the park. A stormwater system will be put in place filtering ponds and wetlands, and pre-settlement ecosystems will be restored. Trout Brook Park is scheduled to open to the public in the Spring of 2015.
Duluth receives Urban Waters grant for St. Louis River
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the City of Duluth an Urban Waters grant, which will facilitate greater coordination between land-based redevelopment activities and the process to delist the St. Louis River as an Area of Concern (AOC). In recognition that the quality of the St. Louis River directly depends upon the quality of the immediate watershed, the City of Duluth will use Urban Waters funding to create a GIS tool that will establish land-based priorities so that redevelopment can complement and expedite the delisting process.
Twin Cities 2013 Development Assessment is Mixed
Finance and Commerce offers its assessment of various office, retail, housing and other development and redevelopment projects, including the new Saints Stadium, Ryan's downtown East Minneapolis redevelopment and a Habitat for Humanity project along the Green LRT Line funded in part by New Market Tax Credits. Read the full story here.
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NATIONAL NEWS
Maryland Legislature increases flexibility for Brownfield Site Reuse
The Maryland General Assembly recently passed new legislation creating a stronger tie between tax increment financing and the state's smart growth objectives: HB 613, Sustainable Communities Designation and Financing. The bill makes cleanup, demolition and the site preparation eligible uses of tax increment financing funds, and gives localities the option of the extra cleanup and site prep costs commonly found on brownfields sites. The Bill reflects the recommendations of the Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission. View the legislation here.
Deadline Extended for National Brownfield Renewal Award Project Nominations
Brownfield Renewal has extended the deadline to nominate project for its Renewal Award. Nominations may be made until July 12, 2013. Applications are available and can be submitted on-line at www.brownfieldrenewal.com |
ACCOLADES
Board Member receives Citizen of the Year Award  We recently learned of special recognition for one of Minnesota Brownfields founders and board members and wanted to share with you.
In recognition to Kristina Smitten's contributions to Marine on St. Croix's community, the Marine City Council named Smitten this year's Citizen of the Year. Since moving to Marine on St. Croix, Smitten has served the community by joining the city's planning commission, becoming a member of The Village Center Task Force, and the Marine Library Association. View the full article here. Congratulations, Kristina, we are so proud of you! |
THANK YOU TO MEMBERS AND SPONSORS
Minnesota Brownfields work is largely made possible through the generous contributions of our members. Individual memberships are available starting at $25/year, but a contribution at any level helps pay for this monthly e-newsletter and other publications. Donate now.
We thank the following individuals and organizations for becoming Redevelopment, Remediation or RAP Development level members, renewing membership at those levels, or for sponsoring our events in the past 12 months:
- American Engineering Testing
- American National Bank
- Barr Engineering Company
- Bay West
- Beazley Consulting
- Braun Intertec Corporation
- Jon Carlson
- Economic Development Association of Minnesota
- Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
- Gray Plant Mooty
- Halleland Habicht
- Hillcrest Development, LLLP
- Historical Information Gatherers
- Hyde Development, LLC
- Javelin Group
- Landmark Environmental, LLC
- Leonard, Street, and Deinard
- LHB
- Liesch
- Loucks Associates
- Metropolitan Council
- Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- The Opus Group
- Parkway Law
- Peer Engineering
- Pope Architects
- Saint Paul Port Authority
- Stantec
- Stoel Rives
- TKDA
- Western Bank
- Xcel Energy
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Through education, research and partnerships, Minnesota Brownfields promotes the efficient cleanup and reuse of contaminated land as a means of generating economic growth,
strengthening communities and enabling sustainable land use and development.
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