Forty professionals were registered for this informative webinar with insight from Rachel Stopper, Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund (HDSRF) Coordinator at NJDEP’s Office of Brownfield and Community Revitalization (OBCR), Elizabeth Limbrick, Director of Brownfields & Sustainable Systems for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJDEA), and Michele Christina, co-owner of Brownfield Redevelopment Solutions, Inc. (BRS).

The following are just a few highlights from our program. Please make sure you join us in the future for both in-person and virtual events to receive all the insights, analyses and suggestions from our panels of experts.

The HDSRF receives more than $10 million dollars every year to reduce the financial burdens on the redevelopment of brownfield sites by municipalities, counties and redevelopment entities. Ms. Stopper described the grant opportunities for public entities to receive funds to cover 100% of the cost of Preliminary Assessments, Site Investigations, and Remedial Investigations. Additional grants are available to cover a portion of the costs for the cleanup of contaminated sites. Both public and private entities that meet HDSRF criteria are also eligible to receive loans for projects.

Ms. Limbrick described various programs available through NJEDA including Tax Incentives, Grants, Loans and free guidance for municipalities, counties, and non-profit organizations through the NJ Brownfield Assistance Center at NJIT. A Brownfield Assessment Grant is also available for underfunded communities in Bayonne, Bridgeton, Paterson and Perth Amboy. Under this program, NJEDA’s contractors complete the environmental investigations for certain projects.

Ms. Christina described how BRS helps municipalities to bundle multiple funding sources using Berry Lane Park in Jersey City, NJ, as a case study. Various Federal, State, County and other funding sources were used to complete the investigation and remediation of 11 properties formerly used as rail yards, auto repair shops, industrial facilities and warehouses. These former contaminated properties are now the largest municipal park in Jersey City with opportunities for active and passive recreation.

Tim Mangold, Pennoni, served as the moderator for the session and facilitated the discussion of additional topics related to Brownfield Redevelopment.

BCONE would like to thank all of our webinar attendees for their participation in our Roundtable discussion. Please remember to check BCONE’s calendar as we continually add more educational and networking opportunities.

A special thank you to our Annual Double Platinum Sponsors!

Posted May 4, 2022