[StBernard] New Orleans Hosts 13th National Brownfields 2009 Conference at Morial Convention Center November 16-18

[Westley Annis]

New Orleans Hosts 13th National Brownfields 2009 Conference at Morial
Convention Center November 16-18 

(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 

  

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