Community Engagement

The Basics:

Common Acronyms Used in Brownfields:

Acronym Meaning Acronym Meaning
AAI All Appropriate Inquiries APZ Aquifer Protection Zone
ABCA Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
ACCD Agency of Commerce and Community Development AST Above-Ground Storage Tank
ACS American Community Survey ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
ACRES Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System BAC Brownfield Advisory Committee
APA Aquifer Protection Area BI Brownfields Inventory

Brownfields 101:

This flyer is downloadable as a PDF file when clicking. 

This image is an educational infographic about brownfields. It’s designed to explain, in a clear and visual way, what brownfields are, why they matter, and how they can be reused. 

 

What it is used for:

  • Educating community members, local officials, and stakeholders
  • Raising awareness about brownfields and redevelopment opportunities
  • Explaining EPA-supported brownfield programs in simple terms
  • Encouraging community involvement and input in redevelopment efforts

 

Overall, the image is a public outreach and education tool meant to help communities understand brownfields and how they can turn neglected properties into safe, productive spaces. We can turn this brownfields 101 info into any form of educational materials (social media post, flyer, pamphlet, newspaper article, letter, email, poster, and more).

Common Contaminants in Brownfields:

Brownfields Factsheets

Each slide is downloadable as a PDF file when clicking. 

This collection of one-page summaries provides quick, practical information on contaminants frequently encountered at brownfield and redevelopment sites:

  • Common Brownfield Contaminants
  • Asbestos
  • Capping
  • Engineered Controls
  • Hazardous Building Materials
  • (HBM)
  • Heavy Metals
  • Historic Fill
  • Lead
  • Petroleum
  • Polychlorinated Bisphenols (PCBS)
  • PFAS
  • Vapor Intrusion

“SEEDS” Framework:

Introducing SEEDS: This is UConn TAB’s framework for community engagement. It outlines different steps for meaningfully involving local residents in your brownfields projects.

Click each example below to download our educational materials and resources.

Finding diverse Stakeholders

Education

Empowering your community

Disseminating important information

Practicing Sustainable Outreach 

In need of translation?

Through our partnership with Fox Translation, we offer translation services for documents and written text in a wide range of languages. These services are intended to support clear and accurate communication by translating content while preserving its original meaning and context. Click the banner below and fill out the form to get started. Submit what you would like translated: social media post, text blurb, document, website content.

If you have any questions, email us at uconn-tab@uconn.edu.

 

Displacement in Brownfields Redevelopment:

Anti-Displacement Strategies:

Click on the green links below for a more detailed description of each strategy, details on implementation, tips for success, and planning questions:

  • Community Benefits Agreement: a contract between community members (or a community organization representing the needs of community members) and a private developer. This contract outlines community needs, desired outcomes and benefits, and how funding will be used both during construction and after the development project is completed
  • Community Land Trust: when a nonprofit purchases housing or land specifically to rent or sell the units to local residents at an affordable price, ensuring long-term, sustainable housing
  • Inclusionary Zoning: a local policy within a community’s local zoning regulations that requires a certain number of affordable housing units to be set aside for people and families under the average median income
  • Small Business Preservation Programs: programs intended to support small businesses through funding, workforce development, or other assistance
  • Tax Abatement: financial programs and tax reductions designed to help residents and small businesses stay in their neighborhoods

Community Engagement Webinars:

Community Engagement and EPA MAC Grants

September 20, 2023

This webinar provides a brief overview on community engagement and how to understand / discuss this important topic for your EPA MAC grants.

Identifying and Addressing Displacement

October 18, 2023

This webinar goes into more detail on displacement and how it impacts communities, how it relates to brownfields, and how it can be prevented through the redevelopment process.

Affordable Housing and Community Engagement

November 1, 2023

This webinar outlines the importance of affordable housing and goes into some of the common misconceptions around this topic, as well as offering strategies to open a dialogue and debunk stereotypes with your community.

SWOT Analysis

April 3, 2024

This webinar outlines the definition and examples of SWOT analysis, explains how it benefits brownfield redevelopment, and includes a case study.

Engage & Empower: Strategies to Spark Community Involvement

July 9, 2025

Engage & Empower Strategies to Spark Community Involvement

Environmental Communication Strategies for Developing Health Literacy

June 18, 2025

Environmental Communication Strategies for Developing Health Literacy

Community Engagement in Aging Communities

March 11, 2025

Community Engagement in Aging Communities

Exploring Disproportionate Environmental Impacts on Communities

February 19, 2025

Brownfields and Disproportionate Environmental Impacts

Displacement Strategies

October 8, 2024

Community Benefits Agreements