Perfect Pitch at National Brownfields Conference

This interactive and informative National Brownfields Conference session is sure to inspire! Three land reuse programs will pitch their brownfield project to industry pros for a chance to win technical assistant support prizes worth up to $50,000!

The Finalists:

Saccarappa Park & Riverwalk Trails – Westbrook, ME (Region 1)

Westbrook, Maine is creating a two-mile loop of Riverwalk trails surrounding the Presumpscot River, connecting underserved residential neighborhoods to parks, public services, and commercial anchors. The brownfield parcels—formerly used for lumber mills, tanneries, and auto shops—are now the focus of a public-private redevelopment effort combining EPA grants with private investment. The result will be an ADA-accessible, pedestrian-friendly green corridor in downtown Westbrook, designed to support health, wellness, and environmental recovery. This project exemplifies community-driven revitalization and multi-sector collaboration.

Renew Jordan Creek – Springfield, MO (Region 7)

The City of Springfield’s Renew Jordan Creek project proposes to daylight a long-buried urban stream, transforming a 3.8-acre post-industrial site into a resilient, green community gathering space in the heart of downtown. This bold redevelopment will enhance water quality, reduce flood risk, and catalyze economic revitalization through nature-based design and placemaking. The project connects ecological restoration with downtown vibrancy, leveraging infrastructure as a tool for economic development and resilience. It offers an ideal case study in how cities can use green infrastructure to reclaim industrial corridors for public benefit.

Jefferson Park & Affordable Housing Project – Los Angeles, CA (Region 9)

The Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust is advancing the Jefferson Park and Affordable Housing Project—an innovative brownfield redevelopment that will transform a vacant, contaminated lot into a vibrant urban greenspace co-located with affordable housing. Located in South LA’s Historic Preservation Overlay Zone, the site is situated in a historically underserved and densely populated neighborhood. The project demonstrates how equitable open space access and affordable housing can be co-located on a single parcel. This model of climate resilience, environmental justice, and community empowerment offers compelling lessons for cities across the country.

The Judges:

Jim Heid: Founder, CRAFT DnA

Jim is an award-winning urban planning and strategic real estate advisor focused on infill development and intentional place building in small towns. He has a Masters in Real Estate Development from MIT and 40 years of development experience. His book Building Small: A Toolkit for Real Estate Entrepreneurs, Civic Leaders and Great Communities illustrates how communities can rebuild using small-scale, incremental development approaches.

Andrew Arnold: Founder & Principal, Pioneer Development Company

Andrew combines his urban planning, economics and real estate financing experience to identify feasible solutions for projects that advance community benefits. He has a bachelors and Masters in City and Regional Planning with a concentration on Real Estate Finance from Cornell University. His company is a KSU-TAB partner and is actively working with 25 municipalities throughout the Mountain West on community and economic development projects.

Kate Greene: Redevelopment Director, Atlas Community Studios

Kate has dedicated her 20+ year career to revitalizing small town economies and fostering community resilience. Before becoming the Redevelopment Director at Atlas Community Studios, Kate led an award-winning Main Street program and served as a brownfield redevelopment specialist with WVU’s Northern Brownfields Assistance Center. Kate uses her skills in market analysis, site reuse planning, project finance, and property redevelopment to foster locally-driven solutions that create lasting economic opportunities.

Benefits of Attending:

1. Improve your own project pitch as you watch the presentations
2. Learn what potential development partners are looking for
3. Ask questions to increase knowledge for pitching your own reuse project
4. Help select the winner through audience voting

Perfect Pitch is supported by the EPA TAB Program, an EPA technical assistance program offering free services to communities nationwide.