Kicking Off Brownfields 2025 with the U.S. EPA Opening Plenary

Join us as John Busterud, nominee for Assistant Administrator of the U.S. EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management, Anne Vogel, U.S. EPA Region 5 Regional Administrator, and Julia Novak, CEO and Executive Director of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA)

officially welcome Brownfields 2025 to Chicago!

Mayor's Roundtable

On Wednesday morning, hear experienced local leaders discuss how brownfields redevelopment can spur community revitalization and economic growth. During this facilitated dialogue, leading mayors from across the nation will share their experiences and success stories in revitalizing communities while addressing blight and environmental contamination.

Featuring: Moderator Steve Williams Former Mayor of Huntington, WV; Mayor Mila Besich of Superior, AZ; Mayor Michael O’Connor of Frederick, MD; Mayor Sean Shultz of Carlisle, PA; Mayor Layne Wilkerson of Frankfurt, KY; and Mayor Christian Bollwage of Elizabeth, NJ.

Keynote Presentation featuring Steve Weikal

AI in Real Estate: Reshaping how we develop, operate, and invest

The real estate industry stands at a pivotal moment of technological transformation. According to the Ferguson Partners Artificial Intelligence Pulse

Survey, 30% of real estate professionals have alreadybegun implementing AI in select business practices, while 24% are experimenting with AI tools for personal productivity enhancement. These adoption rates signal the beginning of a broader industry (r)evolution.

This session examines AI’s transformative impact across the real estate sector—from development and operations to investment strategies. We’ll explore emerging meta-trends reshaping the industry, consider practical AI applications, and spotlight the innovative tech startups driving this transformation of the world’s largest asset class.

This week's newsletter sponsored by:

Brownfields University Registration Now Open

Brownfields University returns as our foundational pre-conference training program for Brownfields 2025! It will provide a curriculum of core brownfield concepts and practices to prepare attendees for the full educational program content.

To add Brownfields University sessions to your already-existing registration, please follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Brownfields 2025 registration site.
2. Click “Already Registered, Go to my Attendee Account”
3. Log in using your username and password OR click “Account/Badge Number and Last Name” to log in with your badge number (ex. 1234-1) and last name. The account/badge number can be found in your registration confirmation email (from: brownfields@prereg.net, Subject: 2025 National Brownfields Training Conference Confirmation/Receipt).
4. Hover your mouse over “⚙️Edit” and select “Events.”
5. Select the Brownfields University workshop(s) you would like to attend.
6. Navigate to the end of the registration site to confirm and check out.

Please email brownfields@prereg.net if you are having trouble logging back in to your registration account.

There is no additional charge to register for Brownfields University sessions. Seating is limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. Register now to guarantee your spot!

Is this your first time attending the

Brownfields Conference?

We have some resources for navigating the conference for you!

Did you miss the Brownfields 2025 First Timers Webinar?

WATCH: The webinar recording here.

Looking for more suggestions on making the most of your first Brownfields Conference?

The EPA Team has compiled this helpful resource with suggestions on preparing for attendance.

READ: 2025 Brownfields Conference First Timers Flyer

Register Now for the National Leadership Breakfast

Thursday, August 7, 2025 | 7:00-8:45am

Room E353A, McCormick Place Lakeside Center

Enjoy a hot breakfast, hear timely updates from the U.S. EPA, the National Brownfields Coalition, and AC Power and learn from our expert panel discussion: "Risky Business: Navigating Emerging Contaminants in Law and Land," featuring top voices from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Godfrey & Kahn, and Langan.

The Center for Creative Land Recycling will also honor these 2025 Lifetime Achievement recipients:

Lifetime Achievement in Thought Leadership

Mary Hashem, Founder and President | Adaapta

Lifetime Achievement in Public Service

Judy Sheahan, Assistant Executive Director for the Environment | Conference of Mayors and J. Christian Bollwage, Mayor | Elizabeth NJ

Lifetime Achievement in Redevelopment

Randall Jostes, Chief Executive Officer | Environmental Liability Transfer

 Thank you to Leadership Breakfast sponsors: Langan, AC Power, Greenberg Glusker, Knauf Shaw and Adaapta. 

Perfect Pitch Finalists Selected

Thursday, August 7, 2025 | 10:30am | Room E450A

Three finalists have been selected to pitch their reuse projects for a chance to win up to $50,000 in free brownfield project technical assistance support. Be sure to attend this interactive session where the audience will be able to vote on ‘Most Likely to Succeed’ and ‘Best Presentation’.

The communities that will pitch their projects are:

• City of Westbrook, ME (Region 1) – Saccarappa Park
• City of Springfield, MO (Region 7) – Renew Jordan Creek
• Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, CA (Region 9) – Jefferson Park & Affordable Housing Project

Register Now for TAB and Friends Social Featuring Brownfields Karaoke!

Thursday, August 7, 2025 | 7:00-9:00pm | The Stanley



Ready to sing your heart out, brownfields-style? Join the 2025 TAB & Friends Social for Brownfields Karaoke in Chicago during the National Brownfields Conference! Connect with fellow brownfield champions, enjoy some laughs, and celebrate your hard work with a fun, music-filled evening.

Whether you’re a karaoke pro or just in it for the vibes, we’d love to see you there! 

Advancing Economic Mobility and Opportunity: Developing a Resource Roadmap

Friday, August 8, 2025, 9:00 - 11:15am

(Free breakfast & networking @ 8:30am)

Join Sustainable Strategies DC and ICMA on the final day of the National Brownfields Training Conference for a hands-on workshop on Economic Mobility and Opportunity (EMO), an approach increasingly used by local governments to place the interests of low-income residents at the center of new initiatives.

This in-depth workshop will provide a data overview and framework for EMO initiatives led by local governments, such as workforce development, entrepreneurship, financial empowerment, healthy food access, child care, and more. You will walk through the steps of developing a compelling case for EMO initiatives and designing a Resource Roadmap to secure funding from federal, state, and philanthropic sources for your initiatives.

The program will also introduce an opportunity to apply for FREE technical assistance in creating a Resource Roadmap by Sustainable Strategies in partnership with ICMA and will cover the methodology and funding sources for complementary initiatives designed to help low-income members of your community gain economic agency and success.

Pre-registration is required for this session. Registration for the National Brownfields Training Conference is not required for participation in this event.

For questions or additional information, please contact Steve King at sking@icma.org or Heather Iliff at heather.iliff@strategiesdc.com 

Sponsorships and Exhibiting

The Brownfields Exhibit Hall is almost sold out!

This year, Brownfields is co-locating the exhibit hall with the Solar Farm Summit, providing access to even more attendees browsing the hall. Check out the live interactive floor plan and secure your preferred both location in just a few clicks!

Sponsorship and exhibiting elevates your visibility and connects you with thousands of decision makers and potential clients from the private sector, local, state, and federal agencies, nonprofit and community groups, and academia.

• Get an audience with decision makers
• Showcase products, services, and thought leadership to your target market
• Enhance your company's visibility with the audience that matters
• Develop new high quality leads and important contacts
• Learn about emerging issues that may affect your company's future objectives

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