Brownfields University returns as our foundational pre-conference training program for Brownfields 2025. It will provide a curriculum of core brownfield concepts and practices to prepare attendees for the full educational program content.
Brownfields University provides valuable hands-on learning and engagement for emerging brownfield practitioners and seasoned professionals alike. Attendees will be better prepared to select educational sessions to attend, and better prepared to engage presenters and exhibitors with freshly informed understanding of subjects covered throughout the conference.
Please note that Brownfields University courses have limited seating. To guarantee your seat, please sign up for the Brownfields University courses you wish to attend when registering for the conference.
How to Add a Ticket to Your Registration
If you are already registered for Brownfields 2025, you can add Brownfields University tickets to your already-existing registration.
- Go to the Brownfields 2025 registration site. (Click here)
- Click “Already Registered, Go to my Attendee Account”
- Log in using your username and password OR click “Account/Badge Number and Last Name” to log in with your badge number (ex. 1234-1) and last name. The account/badge number can be found in your registration confirmation email (from: brownfields@prereg.net, Subject: 2025 National Brownfields Training Conference Confirmation/Receipt).
- Hover your mouse over “⚙️Edit” and select “Events.”
- Select the Brownfields University workshop/s you would like to attend.
- Navigate to the end of the registration site to confirm and check out. Brownfields University is free and there will be no additional charge from those events.
Please email brownfields@prereg.net if you are having trouble logging back in to your registration account.
CURRICULUM
8:00am – 11:00am, Tuesday, August 5, Room E451B
Ready to dive into the world of brownfield redevelopment? This interactive session is designed for beginners and intermediate practitioners looking to get a solid foundation in identifying brownfield sites and prioritizing them for inventory. Through a compelling real-world case study, you’ll explore key concepts that shape the redevelopment process. Expect engaging instructional sessions on All Appropriate Inquiry, environmental assessments, liability considerations, community involvement, and essential brownfield resources. To keep things lively, the session includes dynamic group activities that reinforce learning objectives and ensure you’re ready to tackle brownfield challenges with confidence!
8:00am – 11:00am, Tuesday, August 5, Room E352
A Mini Master Class on Brownfield Redevelopment: Led by veteran brownfield legal, consulting and insurance experts. The course will be patterned on a “fast-paced” and award-winning ABA Brownfield program and will teach participants to think like a brownfield redeveloper and avoid the federal and state legal landmines associated with the redevelopment process. Topics will include a basic overview of applicable federal and state environmental laws, quickly quantifying environmental costs and constraints, fundamental environmental insurance strategies and how to position and evaluate a project for success. The course will also educate participants on strategies to assess and address risks associated with emerging contaminants including PFAS substances. The training will teach how the “best of the best” analyze and redevelop even the toughest brownfield transactions.
8:00am – 11:00am, Tuesday, August 5, Room E353A
U.S. EPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR) has for years now recommended an approach to brownfield communities for leveraging resources for revitalization, dubbed the “Resource Roadmap.”
A Resource Roadmap helps break a complex brownfield revitalization project down into component pieces and phases, identifies funding and finance resources to meet those costs and needs, and creates a strategy for securing those resources. Join the team at Sustainable Strategies DC, that developed the Resource Roadmap with OBLR, to learn how your community can use this systematic and effective way to fund complex revitalization projects, discuss specific funding sources in the changing landscape of 2025; and identify strategies for pursuing these funds.
8:00am – 11:00am, Tuesday, August 5, Room E353C
Navigating the brownfields redevelopment process is challenging, and especially for small, economically disadvantaged, or under-resourced communities. This interactive workshop will equip participants with tools and strategies needed to facilitate sustainable brownfields reuse and redevelopment. Using practical, community-driven solutions, the workshop will help your community position properties for reuse to attract developers and secure public and private capital. Through a case study and hands-on learning, participants will learn how to apply U.S. EPA resources like the “Revitalization Ready Toolkit” and “Creating a Brownfields Investment Package” to real-world challenges. Discover proven land revitalization approaches, understand key players, and master critical decision-making steps to unlock the potential of your brownfield sites. This workshop is an excellent opportunity to gain actionable insights and connect with others committed to revitalizing communities.
8:00am – 11:00am, Tuesday, August 5, Room E351
The U.S. EPA estimates that there are over 450,000 brownfields across America. But many may have a promising future in hosting clean energy. Deploying clean energy on brownfields to convert them into “brightfields” is an often-overlooked reuse, but clean energy does not make sense for every site. In this session, RMI and U.S. EPA will train municipal staff, planners, and other community leaders how to screen sites for clean energy reuse potential with online maps and other tools. Participants can either bring their own site or use mock sites provided. This session will be led by Rocky Mountain Institute’s Brightfield’s Accelerator in collaboration with KSU’s Technical Assistance to Brownfields program and will involve discussions on what sites are best to consider for clean energy and why.
9:00am – 11:00am, Tuesday, August 5, Room E353B
During this session, participants will work together through a project scenario, as each will be assigned a role and will be given specific details that will contribute to a collaborative project strategy.
The session will begin with a brief presentation about stakeholder engagement, planning and environmental considerations. Participants will then be provided a scenario describing a brownfield reuse project–a former gas station in a small, rural town. Participants at each table will be assigned individual roles and project intel that will be necessary for developing a collaborative solution. Each table will work together to develop project solutions.
At the end of the workshop, each small group will report out to the larger group, summarizing their strategies, and a brief conclusion will reinforce lessons learned.
12:00pm – 2:00pm, Tuesday, August 5, Room E353A
This workshop provides actionable strategies for developing and sustaining successful Brownfields Job Training programs that meet local workforce and community needs. Participants will gain insights into effective community engagement, labor market assessments, partnership building, and curriculum design, all tailored to align with U.S. EPA program objectives. Through real-world examples and interactive activities, attendees will learn how to enhance program outcomes and contribute to community revitalization. Designed for community organizations, workforce professionals, and educational institutions, this session equips participants with tools to navigate challenges, maximize resources, and create lasting impacts in their regions.
12:00pm – 2:00pm, Tuesday, August 5, Room E451B
New to the world of brownfields grants? This track is your launchpad. This session is tailored for new grantees, covering essential steps to get started. It will dive into basics of competitive procurement for environmental contractors, guidance on evaluating RFQPs, due diligence requirements, identification of stakeholders, working with property owners, and EPA reporting. Resources will include a Timeline for new EPA Grantees, and who is subject to All Appropriate Inquiry procedures. A panel discussion with experienced communities will round things out with valuable lessons learned and practical tips to help new grantees navigate the process successfully. With insights provided from seasoned peers and plenty of practical tools and resources, you’ll leave ready to lead with clarity and confidence.
12:00pm – 2:00pm, Tuesday, August 5, Room E350
This session is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to drive brownfield projects forward with clarity and confidence. Understanding liability, risk, and All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) is crucial in brownfield redevelopment. Participants will explore contaminant pathways and assessment methods, including compliance with All Appropriate Inquiry Rule, ASTM Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) and Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs). The session also covers collaboration with state environmental authorities, further site investigations, and strategies for reuse and cleanup planning. Finally, attendees will learn practical techniques for implementing remediation and reuse efforts effectively. This deep dive into these topics help you gain confidence in overseeing environmental consultants and have expectations for their deliverables so you can transform environmental challenges into clear, actionable next steps.
12:00pm – 2:00pm, Tuesday, August 5, Room E253A
Dive into the world of brownfields finance with this hands-on track designed to demystify the complex layers of funding known as the capital stack. From federal and state grants to private investment and in-kind support, you’ll learn how to strategically align and sequence resources to make your project pencil out. This track features real-world examples, grant-building insights, and proven tactics to turn financial hurdles into stepping stones for success.
12:00pm – 2:00pm, Tuesday, August 5, Room E353B
U.S. EPA Brownfield Grants can serve as the keystone to establishing and maintaining an effective brownfields program. However, these annual grants are fairly competitive with only approximately one-third of all applicants vetting a successful award. Presentations by those with over an 83% success rate in preparing the grant applications will provide a nuts and bolts approach to turning an unsuccessful ARC proposal into a winning proposal for obtaining this essential funding for your brownfields endeavors. Topics covered include: defining a cogent project; building your team; developing a realistic and implementable budget; and telling a compelling award-worthy story.
12:00pm – 2:00pm, Tuesday, August 5, Room E353C
Real estate development is both an art and a science, where the creative components such as design and placemaking often steal the show. But without a solid financial framework, most projects won’t get past the first pass with the developer or their lenders and investors. This course is designed to provide a high-level overview of how a developer perceives value from the initial back of the envelope to a full proforma and into its operations. Common valuation and return metrics will be explained, and a real project will be evaluated to determine its financial feasibility and what options exist for the project that doesn’t pencil on its first pass.
12:00pm – 2:00pm, Tuesday, August 5, Room E351
Geospatial indicators provide a consistent set of metrics and a solutions-driven approach to inform resilient brownfield assessment and redevelopment decisions. This indicator method utilizes publicly available data to create mappable data layers that can be shared with local, state, and federal partners and incorporated into GIS applications. In this session, speakers will (1) demonstrate the collaborative process of indicator selection and application; (2) present a publicly available handbook that details how to apply the method; (3) highlight case study examples from Phoenix (Arizona), North Carolina, and Wisconsin that implement the indicator method; and (4) provide structured space for brainstorming additional indicator uses that address challenges for other local and state-level programs (such as in prioritizing funding in a balanced way).
12:00pm – 2:00pm, Tuesday, August 5, Room E352
A strong community outreach approach promotes fairness, celebrates neighborhood identities, and ensures long-lasting environmental benefits. This interactive workshop equips land practitioners of all skill levels with the tools to build meaningful community connections in brownfield redevelopment.
Part 1: Attendees will walk away with a community outreach plan to address the unique needs of their project and community. Participants will contemplate barriers to collaboration and develop strategies to reach community members.
Part 2: Speakers will bring common engagement challenges to life in a dynamic workshop using role play. Respond and problem-solve as a group, then explore real-world solutions through case studies.
This hands-on workshop will build confidence in meeting facilitation and equip you with tools to overcome obstacles and turn community input into sustainable redevelopment success.
