Month: April 2023

Summer MAP Participants

We are excited to announce the UConn TAB Summer 23 Municipal Assistance Program (MAP) recipients!

This Summer semester, our student interns will be working with communities across New England on brownfield technical projects. The municipalities will be receiving free-of-charge technical assistance to advance brownfields redevelopment in their communities. The list of projects includes the 6 site reuse assessments, 8 brownfield inventories, 2 community engagement projects, 2 record reviews, and 1 data gap analysis.

The following communities are selected to participate in the Summer 2023 MAP:

THE PERFECT PITCH COMPETITION

THE PERFECT PITCH COMPETITION
Hit the High Notes to Revitalize That Brownfield Site 

Join the ranks of successful past participants and take your chance to shine with the Perfect Pitch Competition.  Hit the high notes of success with the Perfect Pitch Competition (Previously the Redevelopment Rodeo)! This interactive forum is your chance to pitch your vision for the reuse and revitalization of underutilized land.  EPA Technical Assistance to Brownfield (TAB) providers are issuing this national call for applications for prioritized brownfields projects facing common redevelopment challenges. Three selected entities will take the stage at the National Brownfields Conference in Detroit on August 10th and pitch their project, followed by feedback and input from seasoned developers and expert practitioners. 

This isn’t your average competition – it’s an experience that will inspire you and your team to map your next steps for that underutilized property.  Audience participation is encouraged, and everyone gets to vote on the best presentation and most likely to succeed. The Perfect Pitch Competition seeks to spur economic revitalization and bring your community’s vision to life with a soulful twist. You can even replicate this experience in your community by adapting the tools and presentations to conduct stakeholder forums. So let’s hit those high notes and transform underutilized (or brownfield site) land into thriving community spaces. Start by completing this short survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8M96TQD.

The selected entities presenting their brownfield site vision will receive:

  • More than $20,000 in pro bono expert consulting assistance supported by the National Technical Assistance Brownfields Program. Sample services include market analysis, reuse planning, and/or pro forma support. 
  • Feedback to refine your pitch and end use plan to attract a developer/investor. 

Ready to make some music? 

Step 1: Decide to apply!
Step 2: Fill out the below preliminary questionnaire by June 2, 2023https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8M96TQD

Three selected applicants will be notified the week of June 15, 2023.  Selected applicants will work with their regional TAB providers to provide detailed information about the project  and prepare their pitch.

The Competition will be held at the National Brownfields Conference in Detroit, Michigan scheduled for August 8 – 11, 2023.   Selected applicants must commit to attend and participate in the Conference  at the time of selection. The Perfect Pitch Competition is scheduled Thursday, August 10th. All applicants will receive assistance from their regional TAB provider on their submitted brownfields project. 

Got questions? Reach out to your TAB provider for more information.

Don’t have a project? Put this on your list of must-attend sessions at the National Brownfields Conference and prepare to pitch next time.  The audience won’t just be sitting in the stands! In addition to listening in on incredibly valuable expert advice, all audience stakeholders are welcome to ask questions and vote on the best pitch presentation, which is most likely to succeed, and which project you would invest in.  

Quotes in Support of the Perfect Pitch Competition: 

“This session provided us an invaluable experience by presenting the agency’s Brownfields’ project in front of a new set of eyes.  The feedback and assistance received from seasoned developers and expert practitioners contributed to our team’s ability on how to move forward in renovating the site and develop the project further.” Jessie Thompson, Executive Director with the Oklahoma City Community Action Agency

John J. Piseck, Jr., CEO with Herkimer County, New York Industrial Development Agency, was initially unsure about what to expect when he applied to pitch.  However, after being selected and presenting, he let us know he learned a great deal about how to make his brownfield site more attractive to developers.  His advice: “If you are selected to be in the Perfect Pitch Competition, take full advantage of it!”.