Our Mission
About Us
Our mission is simple: drive responsible, equitable, and sustainable development on land that’s already been used. By building on underutilized land, we preserve open space, reduce the environmental impact of our cities and towns, and create the kinds of vibrant neighborhoods where we all want to live.
Founded in 1998 as a project of the Trust for Public Land (a conservation organization), the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR or “see-clear”) has grown into the only national nonprofit working exclusively to champion the equitable and sustainable cleanup and reuse of vacant or contaminated properties. Sometimes referred to as “brownfields,” these properties are often seen as problems in a community.
At CCLR, we know brownfields also present an opportunity. Done well, redeveloping brownfields can transform a community for those who live there. We are committed to our work because we know that land recycling is the key to ensuring a healthy, sustainable, and equitable future for all of us and for our environment.
CCLR serves as U.S. EPA’s Technical Assistance to Brownfield Communities (TAB) provider in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and the Pacific Island territories.
Our Expertise
CCLR is a national expert in complex land reuse projects. We work with every sector of redevelopment stakeholders including municipalities, government agencies, community groups, developers, engineers, attorneys, and environmental consultants. Our network and knowledge of the redevelopment landscape is unparalleled, and we can help at any stage of the process.
- Creative funding solutions and grant application review
- Strategic planning and capacity assessments
- Environmental review and remediation
- Navigation of regulatory and liability processes
- Community engagement
What We Do
Convene stakeholders to workshop sites, solve problems, and share successes.
Build redevelopment capacity at the local level through custom training and direct assistance.
Serve as an independent third-party to analyze and moderate challenging redevelopment scenarios.
Connect public and private entities to create fruitful partnerships for successful projects.
Educate brownfield practitioners by providing resources and events.
Advocate at the national level for brownfields policies and programs.
2021-2022 Impact
Featured Partnerships
DTSC is rolling out its brand-new Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG) program, with up to $250 million in grants to assess and cleanup properties in environmental justice communities. CCLR can help you apply for funding.
We are collaborating with Groundwork U.S.A. to provide resources and events around the environmental justice impacts of brownfields and best practices for equitable development.
CCLR works with an extraordinary array of public and private entities across the land reuse sphere, on topics from renewable energy on brownfield sites to economic development strategies. Find out more about opportunities to bring CCLR onto your team.
Leadership
Jean Hamerman has been a part of CCLR’s executive team for the past 6 years, first serving as Deputy Director and then Executive Director. She brings expertise in finance and business development and experience at both both public and private agencies. A life-long advocate for the environment, Jean developed an expertise in energy-efficiency in the built environment and consulted on residential retrofit and eco-efficiency measures through her company, NeighborGreen.
