Brownfields Buzz
Your hub for brownfields spotlights, tools, events, news, and more!
November 2025
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As we wrap up the year, KSU TAB wishes you a warm
and restful holiday season.
For communities preparing FY26 MAC Grant proposals,
we encourage you to view our recent FY26 Competition Resource Roundup for additional application resources.
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The Lexington Mine Headframe towers above the Blaine School in Walkerville on Monday.
THOM BRIDGE, Montana Standard
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Walkerville Mayor John Ries remembers when the Blaine School was still a gathering place—a community event center that once brought people together before heating problems, structural issues, and deferred maintenance forced it to close. Over time, the vacant building slipped into disrepair, attracting vandalism and occasionally serving as a training site for law enforcement and the Air Force, but Ries hasn't written the 12,000-foot structure off altogether. The town is exploring how the gym and surrounding space might once again serve residents, from recreation and community meetings to weddings and even emergency shelter.
A recent Montana Standard article highlights ongoing brownfields work at the former Blaine School, where KSU TAB—through its partnership with Montana Technological University—is helping support early community engagement alongside environmental assessments funded by MT Tech and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
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Two students tour the Blaine School.
Courtesy Montana Technological University
| | "There are hopes and dreams to turn it into something useful, but first let’s figure out what’s actually there, because no one really knows.” | | |
As Mayor John Ries explained, “We couldn’t afford to heat the building because of the inadequate heating system in the boiler… So, we just shut it down.” Despite many challenges, some parts of the structure have held up better than others. “The outside foundation is solid, but all the piers were on dirt in the middle," he added. "When they turned off the heat, I think that’s when the floors swelled; the gym got a nice hump in it.”
Local partners share the desire to reimagine the school's future, but before any vision can move forward, the community must uncover potential hazards present inside the aging structure, such as asbestos or lead paint. Assessing and identifying contamination can cost tens of thousands of dollars, particularly for mid-century buildings. Montana DEQ Brownfields Coordinator Jason Seyler emphasized the importance of this step, calling the school “a great example of something that’s been sitting underutilized for a long time… There are hopes and dreams to turn it into something useful, but [first] let’s figure out what’s actually there, because no one really knows.”
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KSU TAB partner Robin Bullock speaks with two men in Blaine School during a recent tour.
Courtesy Montana Technological University
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Because of the building’s age, assumptions vary widely. As Seyler explained, “Everybody assumes, [because] it’s built in the 1950s, that it would be full of asbestos, but you don’t really know until you start taking samples.”
To help answer those questions, Montana Tech students from Sustainable Waste Management and Occupational Safety and Health classes—taught by KSU TAB partner Dr. Robin Bullock—are completing preliminary environmental and safety assessments. Their work, provided at no cost to the community, will help guide DEQ and Headwaters as they determine next steps. The project is also giving students hands-on experience with real-world assessment challenges. As Bullock noted, “We’re taking Montana Tech’s hands-on curriculum, partnering with the community, and collaborating to help each other.”
This effort marks an essential first step toward understanding the site’s condition and planning. KSU TAB looks forward to seeing how this work will help shape the Blaine School’s next phase.
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KSU TAB's Newest E-Tool: The Community Benefits Calculator
| | If you need a redevelopment project snapshot that provides key metrics like costs, revenues, estimated number of jobs created, and benefit and risk scores, download the Community Benefits Calculator (CBC) and learn whether a redevelopment project will offer a strong return on public investment for your community. |
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Get Grant-Ready with the New & Improved
TAB EZ
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The new TAB EZ platform will fully launch on December 8 with all FY26 MAC guideline updates and helpful resources.
Until then:
- A soft-launch version is available to explore.
- Do not draft full proposals in the soft-launch version — content may be lost once the final version goes live.
Action Required for Current Users:
TAB EZ is still undergoing final polishing and updates. Thus, any content drafted may be lost upon release of the final version. Be sure to save and export any content you would like to have available for your FY26 grant application.
For questions or technical issues, contact your regional coordinator.
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The KSU TAB team offers in-depth proposal reviews to help strengthen your submission. If you’d like your draft reviewed, contact Scott Nightingale (scottnight@ksu.edu), and we'll be glad to help. Please note that we request at least three business days to complete the review.
If you're outside KSU TAB’s service area in EPA Regions 5–8, you can use this map to find your regional provider.
The deadline to submit your proposal for review is January 23, 2026.
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Stay tuned for the release of our FY26 Helpful Hints guidance document, an essential application companion to have on hand as you write your proposal.
Once it's uploaded, you can find the document on our Resources page. Stay connected on LinkedIn and Facebook for the latest resource updates.
| | Regional Office Hours: Dates Coming Soon | |
Stay tuned for December and January office hour dates for Regions 5-8.
Office hours will be posted on ksutab.org's events page.
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Upcoming Grow America & Partner Events | | |
Grow America is hosting several upcoming Brownfields-focused office hours and trainings.
Upcoming Open Office Hours (2 hours each):
- Jan 21, 2026: EPA RLF Staff Succession Planning
- Feb 18, 2026: RLF Loans and Sub-Grant Products
- Mar 18, 2026: Davis-Bacon and Your EPA RLF
Partner organizations are also offering late-2025 learning opportunities, including sessions on creative park funding strategies, municipal assistance, and EPA ACRES training.
For full details and registration links, visit Grow America’s events page.
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KSU TAB Offering Scholarships for
Laneshift's Active Transportation Academy
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KSU TAB is partnering with Laneshift again in 2026 to offer scholarships for their Active Transportation Academy (ATA)—a four-day, on-site, immersive experience designed to help professionals bring active transportation initiatives to their communities.
During the academy, TAB staff meet with participants, share information on brownfields redevelopment, and highlight the intersection between brownfields and active transportation networks.
- Whether you are a city staffer, planner, advocate, or elected official, you’ll gain knowledge that will help you utilize bikes to strengthen your community.
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The academies occur twice a year in the fall and spring. Those interested in attending may apply for a TAB scholarship by visiting Laneshift’s Academy webpage.
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Scholarship Details:
KSU TAB will offer up to 15 scholarships for the 2026 Active Transportation Academies.
Scholarship covers:
- Meals, snacks, drinks
- Bike + helmet rental
- Ground transportation during the academy
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Single-occupancy accommodations at Trailhead Mews (Bentonville, AR)
- All course materials, facilitation, and supplies
- Branded backpack, water bottle, and notebook
Note: Transportation to and from Bentonville is at the participant’s expense.
Learn more on Laneshift's website or check out the most recent ATA recap video to see what your ATA experience could look like.
| | Share Your Redevelopment Success Stories | | |
Do you have a redevelopment milestone or brownfields success story to share?
We’re gathering stories for social media, the KSU TAB website, and future newsletters — we want to share your challenges, successes, and stories to inspire other communities.
Please email hayleyveilleux@ksu.edu with subject line Brownfield Success Story or Brownfield Project Update if you have a project you want to share with the brownfields community.
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Wishing you a safe and restful holiday season. We look forward to continuing our work together in 2026.
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Follow your KSU TAB Team on LinkedIn and Facebook!
Visit our website at www.ksutab.org.
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