Land Recycling

The fourth biennial Sierra Fund conference, focused on finding ways to reclaim and remediate mine-scarred lands in the Sierra, took place at the Sacramento State University on May 8th and 9th. The full slate of programming was kicked off by Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin, CEO of the Sierra Fund, who spoke about the grip that absentee landowners have over the land in the Sierra. The stage for a frank conversation about land-use and equity was further set by Lawrie Mott, a former scientist with the National Resources Defense Council, who begged the question: “Can our 20th Century water systems survive the 21st Century climate reality?”

CCLR and its partners, Maul Foster Alongi (MFA), the Skamania County and the City of Stevenson, WA, hosted a Vision-to-Action workshop to inspire the future redevelopment on the former Hegewald Veneer Mill Site.  Vision-to-Action is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-funded program that helps communities brainstorm ideas for redevelopment on local brownfield sites. This event was focused on the former Hegewald Veneer Mill located just north of the Rock Cove Assisted Living on SW Rock Creek Drive in Skamania, Washington. Please visit CCLR’s Facebook page for photos of the event.

Land is a finite resource, and the fight to make space for urban housing is a continuous battle. As job and population growth continue to outpace housing production in many US cities, displacement and rising rates of homelessness have caused a public health crisis. In the Bay Area and New York, we examine some companies who are finding ways to mitigate the need for housing.

The EPA is offering an exciting program to create walkable, healthy, and economically vibrant neighborhoods though local food systems development. Local Foods, Local Places is the new program that offers technical assistance during a  two day workshop while developing a plan of action for communities who want to develop local food systems.

On June 15th, the Center for Creative Land Recycling hosted its first workshop in Western New York! Our free, informative half-day workshop at the SUNY Buffalo campus focused on the latest trends in brownfield and infill redevelopment. Over 80 municipal planners, environmental professionals and consultants, local community organizers and developers all came together to share strategies for leveraging technology and the natural environment, as well as to form and build on collaborative relationships in the area.

EPA has announced the availability of funding to develop an area-wide plan for brownfields assessment, cleanup, and subsequent reuse. This funding is for research and/or technical assistance activities directed to one or more brownfield site(s) located in a specific area (such as a neighborhood, downtown or business district, local commercial corridor, community waterfront or city blocks). POWER+ communities may be interested in applying for an EPA Brownfields Area Wide Planning grant because a closed or closing coal-fired power plant or related legacy brownfield site(s) is likely to quickly become a large, blighted area with associated displacement of workers. Each project funded under this grant must result in an area-wide plan which includes specific plan implementation strategies for assessing, cleaning up, and reusing the brownfields site(s) as well as related brownfields and project area revitalization strategies. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 20 projects in total, funded at up to $200,000 each. Application Deadline: August 10, 2016

Rome Wasn't built in a day, and neither was a successful ARC grant application. That is why we at CCLR believe the ONLY sure way to increase your chances of success is to START EARLY. Join us for this short and informative webinar designed to give you the tools you need to get ahead of the curve on this year's ARC grants and gain important insight into putting together a solid application. 

This grant program is awarded to support state and local government programs that identify, address, and improve community health in revitalizing Brownfield/Land Reuse sites. Projects must pay particular attention to identifying and addressing health issues prior to redevelopment and assessing changes in community health associated with revitalization. Competitive applications will include collaborations between community organizations that will strengthen the community's ability to consider public health issues in redevelopment.

Application Deadlines: Letter of Intent - 6/3/2016;  Full Application - 7/5/2016

The EPA Brownfields Grants are awarded for the Assessment and Clean Up of Brownfield sites, and the creation of State or Tribal Revolving Loan Fund programs. Collectively these funds will aid under-served and economically disadvantaged communities through the assessment and cleanup of abandoned industrial and commercial properties and expand the ability of communities to recycle vacant and abandoned properties for new, productive reuses.  CCLR provided extensive support to many applicants that were awarded funding - Congratulations to ALL!

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is holding a workshop in Phoenix, Arizona to provide cities, towns, nonprofits, and community groups with new ways of understanding, and the tools to improve public health and economic vitality. For more information CLICK HERE.And to register, CLICK HERE.

Time & Date: June 2, 2016 | 8am - 1:30pm

Location: Flinn Foundation, 1802 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ