Brownfields Buzz
Your hub for brownfields spotlights, tools, events, news, and more!
March 2026
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As the season shifts, so does the pace of brownfields work. Spring brings new opportunities for community engagement, redevelopment planning, and project implementation—and KSU TAB is here to support communities through each stage of the process.
In this issue, we’re highlighting:
- Community-led redevelopment efforts in Gary, Indiana
- Next steps for the Thornton Shopping Center in Denver
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KSU TAB regional events open for registration
- EPA Brownfields Job Training program
- RLF Training Opportunties
- And more!
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Community-Led Redevelopment Takes Shape in Gary, Indiana | | |
In early March, KSU TAB’s Beth Grigsby (EPA Region 5), in partnership with Delta Institute, led a series of workshops in Gary, Indiana, supporting the GreenRoots Initiative—a community-driven group working to revitalize neighborhoods impacted by brownfields and unsafe properties.
The workshop series introduced participants to brownfields fundamentals, property research tools, and other available resources. The group also conducted a neighborhood tour and developed an extensive brownfield inventory, demonstrating both strong local knowledge and commitment to redevelopment.
Subsequent discussions focused on prioritizing sites and identifying community goals. Participants emphasized community benefit, with a strong focus on affordable housing and small business development.
The momentum behind this effort is rooted in sustained partnership. In earlier work with the Gary Townmakers, the group shared:
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On behalf of Gary Townmakers, we extend our deepest thanks for the knowledge and expertise that you have shared during our brownfield training workshops. For an organization that has long pushed against the status quo, your guidance left us on Friday feeling more informed, empowered, and hopeful than ever before. Beth, we were not scared away but were provided answers and pathways for overcoming obstacles that have stymied development.
—Gary Townmakers
November 2025
| | Explore the KSU TAB YouTube Channel | | |
Did you know KSU TAB has a YouTube channel with more than 50 videos designed to support your brownfields work?
Our channel features recorded webinars, grant writing guidance, E-Tools demonstrations, and topical training content organized into easy-to-navigate playlists.
Explore and subscribe to KSU TAB | Technical Assistance to Brownfields on YouTube to access the full library and stay up to date as new content is added.
| | Find A KSU TAB Event Near You This Spring | | |
KSU TAB is hosting a variety of regional workshops and webinars throughout April and May.
Be sure to check the KSU TAB Events page to discover events near you and get involved.
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In 2026, Grow America and ICMA will host a new, no-cost, in-person training series for EPA Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grantees nationwide. Hosted in four different regions, this hands-on workshop series brings the Brownfields RLF teams together for focused learning, practical exercises, and peer-to-peer exchange. Each of these workshops will take place over a day and a half and will provide attendees with core knowledge on working effectively with developers, project pipeline development, underwriting approaches, and RLF process and policies.
Series Details:
- Louisville, Kentucky RLF Workshop: April 21-22, 2026 @ The Seelbach Hilton
- Portland, Maine RLF Workshop: May 28-29, 2026 @ Holiday Inn Portland – By the Bay
- New Orleans, Louisiana RLF Workshop: October 6-7, 2026 @ The Intercontinental New Orleans
- Clark County, Nevada RLF Workshop: December 8-9, 2026 @ AC Hotel Symphony Park Las Vegas
| | Build Local Workforce Capacity with EPA’s Brownfields Job Training Program | |
Communities across the country are using EPA’s Brownfields Job Training (JT) Program to connect local residents with careers in environmental remediation, construction, and community revitalization—while directly supporting the cleanup and reuse of local brownfield sites.
For organizations interested in launching or strengthening a job training program, success depends not just on funding, but strong partnerships, thoughtful program design, and clear pathways to employment.
To support communities exploring this opportunity, we’ve compiled a set of resources to help you get started:
| Even if you’re just beginning to explore workforce development opportunities, KSU TAB can help you assess readiness, identify partners, and map out next steps toward a Brownfields Job Training program. |
K-State Researchers Connect at Posters, Pinot & Partnerships | |
In March, KSU TAB staff participated in Kansas State University’s Posters, Pinot & Partnerships event at Hale Library, part of a new initiative from the Office of the Vice President for Research to foster interdisciplinary collaboration across campus.
Executive Director Blase Leven, Environmental Engineering master’s degree candidate Sowmya Dandu, and Research Associate Professor Cynthia Annett presented posters highlighting research aligned with KSU TAB’s work.
Leven and Dandu examined how contaminants like glyphosate move through soil and water systems and impact urban environments, including brownfields. Annett’s research focused on nature-based solutions to reduce environmental and climate risks, emphasizing approaches that work with natural systems to strengthen resilience and support long-term redevelopment.
| Graphic displays combined elements from presented posters. |
| Next Steps Underway for Denver's Thornton Shopping Center | | Image source: Denverpost.com | |
As reported by the Denver Post, the City of Thornton is moving forward with plans to redevelop the former Thornton Shopping Center, with environmental cleanup underway to address contaminated soils and community input helping shape the next steps of redevelopment.
As Thornton City Councilman Justin Martinez shared, “The overwhelming consensus in the community is that we need to have a gathering space… It’s an opportunity to create a core development that can live for 100 years, or longer.”
KSU TAB continues to support the effort, with Kate Lucas noting both the site’s challenges and potential: “I think that this site has been emotionally challenging to the community for the past 20 years… There’s a lot of potential on this site.”
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Neighbors have already weighed in on what they’d like to see—and not see: no car washes, gas stations, fast-food restaurants, sprawling parking lots, or big box retailers.
Instead, residents and city officials have expressed interest in smaller shops, sit-down restaurants or a food hall. A community garden, plazas, and rooftop seating are also among the redevelopment options being considered, with new housing likely to be a major component of the site.
| | STEM Engagement Inspires Next Generation in Kansas City, Kansas | | |
KSU TAB’s Cynthia Annett recently helped lead an environmental science activity for approximately 75 middle and high school students through Saturday Academy, a long-running collaborative program in Kansas City, Kansas.
For more than 25 years, Saturday Academy has brought together Kansas City Kansas Community College, the University of Kansas Medical Center, and Kansas City Kansas Public Schools to provide hands-on learning opportunities in math and science. Students attend sessions every other Saturday, gaining access to lab spaces, mentorship, and real-world learning experiences.
This initiative continues to play an important role in supporting STEM education and engaging the next generation of environmental and community leaders.
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