Outreach to Support Brownfield Redevelopment

I. Scope of Services: Blueprint Kentucky, within the University of Kentucky, will work with the Kentucky Energy Environmental Cabinet’s Kentucky Brownfield Redevelopment Program to implement targeted assistance, outreach, and programming. These initiatives will include targeted work in Louisville’s Russell Neighborhood, Maysville, and Scottsville as well as statewide engagement and assistance when requested. Targeted communities will receive training, tools, resources, and deliverables aimed at identifying and redeveloping brownfield properties to best suit local needs. Blueprint services will also play a key role in preparing communities to compete in the federal grant competition and assist them in the successful completion of projects. Throughout the contract period Blueprint Kentucky will engage communities by leading processes that gather input from a wide range of stakeholders to inform redevelopment priorities. At the end of the partnerships communities will have a better understanding of the brownfield redevelopment process and a strategy for seeking financial and technical assistance to initiate redevelopment projects and further their revitalization efforts. Activities/Timelines Task 1 – Maintain public communications and relationship building campaign to increase awareness of brownfield redevelopment. Blueprint Kentucky will continue community outreach initiatives established during the previous BCAP collaboration. Outreach initiatives and campaigns will promote technical assistance for potential brownfield properties, capacity building training opportunities, and relationship building opportunities. Initiatives will include public presentations at regularly scheduled meetings or relevant local, state, or regional conferences. These efforts will establish new partnerships and priority areas for statewide brownfields assistance. Priority will be given to underserved small or rural communities and communities that have not utilized brownfield technical assistance. Where applicable, collaboration with established organizations may be utilized to bolster programming or outreach campaigns. Example organizations and programs include: Blueprint Kentucky partners and programs, University of Kentucky Extension, Downtown Revitalization network partners, Kentucky Main Street, KAED, Area Development Districts, Community Foundations), Kentucky Department of Local Governments, issues focused non-profits (environmental, economic development, etc.), existing technical assistance providers (Mountain Association, Brushy Fork Leadership Institute, etc.), and other regional networks focused on building local capacity to tackle community and economic development challenges. Task 2 – Develop regular educational and informational resources focusing on elements and aspects of brownfield redevelopment. Blueprint Kentucky will coordinate, produce, schedule, and host a monthly webinar series featuring different aspects of brownfield redevelopment. This series will evolve over time and respond to the needs expressed by participants and community partners. Topics may include, but are not limited to the following: • Basics of community development and planning • downtown revitalization • brownfield programs • inventory and mapping tools • community teams and partnerships • stakeholder and public engagement • working with consultants • community decision-making • development priority setting • funding opportunities • grant writing • community data and metrics • measuring success • redevelopment planning and community visioning • land reuse and redevelopment code enforcement and ordinance implications • community readiness • innovative reuse (creative placemaking and climate resiliency) • site remediation • complying with Davis-Bacon requirements • catalyzing properties with purpose • historic development In addition to the monthly webinar, a monthly newsletter will be sent out covering many of the same topics while also promoting relevant internal and external programs, training, news, and conferences. Other educational and informational materials such as flyers or toolkits may be developed if need arises. Task 3 – Compile site inventories of recognized and potential brownfields sites with redevelopment strategies. Blueprint Kentucky will engage community stakeholders and residents to identify and prioritize brownfield sites that will result in the development of a specialized local building inventory. This work will also include defining a targeted project area for more intentional inventorying as well as community visioning sessions. Inventories will include specific information for each site, potential visual aids, and any known history that may lend the site to brownfield cleanup. Once completed the inventories will serve as a foundational element of each community’skierkier “BAD Buildings” style report. Task 4 – Conduct community and stakeholder meetings that result in the creation of community centered resources for brownfield redevelopment. Blueprint Kentucky will lead the outreach, organization, and facilitation of community resident and stakeholder meetings. Utilizing community engagement tools and specialized data sets a variety of approaches and input sessions will take place over the project’s duration. Community sessions will be informative and interactive as they ultimately lend to the creation of multiple resources based around local brownfield properties. Resources such as a site inventory and broader “BAD Buildings” style report will provide a mix of site specific summaries, broader redevelopment goals, relevant local planning documents, demographic and other datasets, other visual tools, local nearby assets, other community development strategies, and additional resources that arise from place-based specific needs. Meetings will occur at regular intervals throughout the project period. Blueprint Kentucky will also remain responsive to shifting needs of the three target communities as well as other communities requesting information or assistance around the state.