On September 23, 2026, BCONE’s NJ 2027: The Next Wave of Revitalization & Growth symposium brought together leaders in economics, government, planning, redevelopment, law, engineering, and renewable energy for an afternoon exploring the forces shaping New Jersey’s future.

The program opened with Ryo Tashiro, Economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, who provided an economic outlook covering market conditions, workforce and demographic trends, and factors influencing investment and redevelopment.

The Economic Forecasting panel, moderated by Dawn J. Bembry Breeden, featured Ryo Tashiro, Elizabeth Limbrick, Schenine Mitchell, and Abbie Tang-Smith. Panelists discussed federal and state funding, incentive programs, infrastructure investment, and the role of collaboration among agencies and redevelopment stakeholders.

The discussion then turned to The Next Generation of Brownfields Redevelopment in New Jersey. Moderated by Alan Miller, the panel brought together David Pepe, Lisa Avichal, Dan Kennedy, and Emily Lamond to share perspectives on planning, permitting, land-use policy, environmental regulation, and development. Their insights highlighted both the opportunities and the challenges facing future brownfield projects.

The final panel, Powering Redevelopment: Brownfields and New Jersey’s Energy Future, featured former Senator Bob Gordon, Jason Schuler, Colleen Kokas, and Andrew Levine, with Geoff Clark moderating. The discussion examined how brownfield redevelopment intersects with renewable energy, infrastructure planning, and the state’s environmental and economic priorities.

Throughout the afternoon, a common theme emerged: advancing redevelopment requires coordination across disciplines, agencies, and the public and private sectors. Through thoughtful discussion and valuable networking, the symposium gave attendees an opportunity to exchange ideas, strengthen connections, and bring practical insights back to their projects and organizations.