November 16-18 at Morial Convention Center
(Dallas, Texas – October 2, 2009) More than 6,000 environmental and economic development officials, finance and insurance providers, risk managers, planners, attorneys, civil engineers and students are expected to attend the 13th National Brownfields Conference, November 16-18, 2009, at New Orleans’ Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
Addressing the nation's brownfields - abandoned or underutilized properties stigmatized by past commercial or industrial uses - is an ongoing challenge for communities of every size. By focusing on redevelopment, properties are put back into productive use for communities while helping to keep undeveloped lands in a natural state.
The National Brownfields Conference's Educational Program features more than 150 panel sessions, green jobs, green buildings, and green remediation, creative financing and financial risk management, community and economic development, environmental assessment and cleanup, use of alternative energy to power the cleanup and redevelopment of properties, sustainability and much more. More than 200 exhibitors will display the latest technologies and services, and mobile workshops and walking tours of New Orleans are also included.
A unique conference feature is the Brownfields Transaction Forum, which brings together property owners with developers, investors and financiers to talk about specific brownfields properties available for purchase, lease and reuse and redevelopment. Now in its fifth year, this fast-paced interactive forum is a must attend brownfields event for corporate asset managers, economic development officials, real estate professionals, and others. A variety of properties will be available ranging from former manufacturing plants, to vacant and abandoned commercial buildings and lots. Many of theses properties may be eligible for a host of local, state and even federal redevelopment incentives. The 2009 Forum will be held on November 16 and 17.
For the first time, a volunteer activity will be included as part of the Pre-Conference mobile workshops. The volunteer activity will involve native plant landscaping at the Andrew H. Wilson Elementary School. The Andrew H. Wilson Elementary school and the Broadmoor neighborhood spent two weeks under water after Hurricane Katrina. The existing school structure has been renovated and new facilities added. The building incorporated many sustainable components and expects to achieve LEED Gold certification. The school will open for students in January 2010. Our volunteer effort will install landscaping for the school. As part of the Brownfields 2009 Conference focus to improve properties, we will help revitalize the school by installing native and well-adapted plants based on a well-planned environmental design.
The National Brownfields Conference is managed by the International City/County Management Association, in partnership with EPA.
Register for the conference at www.Brownfields2009.org
More about activities in EPA Region 6: http://www.epa.gov/region6
EPA Audio file is available at http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/sep2009.html