The Brownfields Assistance Center at WVU is celebrating 20 years of successful revitalization and technical assistance in West Virginia communities.
In partnership with the Brownfields Assistance Center at Marshall University, the Center released a video documenting two decades of support to economic and community development across the state as part of the annual conference in Morgantown.
The West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Centers at WVU and Marshall University were created in 2005 by the West Virginia Legislature to promote economic development, and environmental and public health protection through innovative redevelopment of brownfield sites.
“Since 2005, we have gone from seeing limited brownfield redevelopment in the state to having built a reputation as national leaders in rural brownfield redevelopment,” said Carrie Staton, director of the Brownfields Assistance Center at WVU.
Brownfields are properties in which redevelopment or reuse is complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous materials, pollution or other contaminants.
The centers help to demystify the complexities of brownfields redevelopment and to leverage funding for environmental remediation. In the first 20 years, the centers have helped secure more than $50 million in EPA brownfields funding, leveraging more than $1 billion in additional public and private investment directly to West Virginia communities.
“Taking the time to reflect on our impact and our reach is important, and we wanted to honor the leaders who had the vision to create and invest in these unique centers to help move communities forward and compete on a national stage,” Staton said.
“We’re kicking off a year of celebration of that vision, and looking back at the projects and the people who have made huge impacts in West Virginia communities over the past 20 years.”