In addition to our stellar programming in plenary and breakout sessions, this year’s conference will feature several conference add-ons throughout the week. Find more information below, and add any of these opportunities to your registration.
Tuesday, September 12
EPA Workshops
EPA Grant Writing Workshop
9:30 am – 11:30 am
Free
This interactive workshop will provide information on the latest round of US EPA Brownfields Grants and will help participants interested in applying to US EPA later this fall. At this training, representatives from the WV Brownfields Assistance Centers, WV Department of Environmental Protection, and the US Environmental Protection Agency will be available to answer questions on the brownfield grant application, assessment, and cleanup process and new guidelines related to Bipartisan Infrastructure funding for brownfields, as well as tips on building a compelling story that will lead to a successful redevelopment project. Registration can be added for free to your general conference registration. If you would like to attend the grant workshop but not the full conference, please contact Katie See. Lunch will be provided to all attendees.
EPA Grantee Meeting
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Free
The Brownfields EPA Grantee Meeting is an opportunity for Brownfield Grantees and Federal Staff from EPA Region 3 alongside their TAB provider to exchange ideas, provide feedback to one another, and encourage closer collaboration for brownfield redevelopment. The session will provide grantees with updates on federal and state programs, grants and other resources, and technical issues grantees face. Registration for the EPA Grantee meeting is open to all current and new EPA grantees. If you would like to attend the grantee meeting but not the full conference, please contact Katie See.
Advanced Tax Credits Workshop
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Free
This session will be a deeper dive into the financial aspects of the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit (HTC) program. Learn from experts in the field of tax credits how the program works, establishing a Limited Liability Company and the creation of a funding stack. This session is more advanced in nature and designed for those who already have a working knowledge of the program. Topics include:
- How to twin projects with LIHTC, and the financial stack associated with such a project
- How to utilize HTC and NMTC with a non-profit partner
- Organizational structure and how to establish it, requirements, regulations, etc.
Mobile Workshops
$35 pre-registration fee
All mobile workshops will depart from Oglebay on September 12. Please note that not all tours have the same departure time. Mobile workshops require an additional registration fee that includes the cost of transportation and any workshop materials. Space on all workshops is very limited so be sure to get your tickets early.
Redeveloping Brownfields: In a Van Down by the River
This tour will depart from Oglebay at 2 pm.
Join the Business Development Corporation of the Northern Panhandle and visit three brownfield sites along the river in Weirton, Wellsburg, and Beech Bottom. Speakers will discuss the complexities of redeveloping brownfields often overlooked before remediation, including:
- Determining next steps when plan after plan fails for your site
- Facing challenges of historic preservation as a component of using public funds
- Developing necessary infrastructure improvements for end use
- Dealing with legacy issues that are not addressed by the WV voluntary remediation program (VRP)
- Navigating soil management plans and land use covenants
- Financing projects and coordinating lien positions
This workshop will be eligible for LRS credits.
Nailed it! Wheeling Focuses on the Future through Redeveloped Brownfields
This tour will depart from Oglebay at 3 pm.
Get a sneak peek of what’s developing in Wheeling’s downtown. From new and improved recreational opportunities for residents, to tourism attractions, urban farming and yurts, and providing ready sites for new industrial and commercial development, Wheeling is nailing it – blending preservation of its rich history with the revitalization of its brownfield sites. The tour will include both VRP and non-VRP sites, where a variety of cleanup standards, remedial methods, and funding sources are being utilized.
This workshop will be eligible for LRS credits.
Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Tour
This tour will depart from Oglebay at 3 pm.
The Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program has become one of the most well-known programs for the redevelopment of historic structures. Commercial property owners in Wheeling are utilizing the program at a higher rate than anywhere else in the state. This tour will visit recent projects taking place within the city. We will tour the Bridge Tavern (950 Main Street), the Water Front Hall (1228-1230 Water Street), the Flat Iron Building (1507-1509 Main Street) and Posins Jewelry Store (1306 Market Street), while allowing time for a walking tour of the exterior of the Manufacturer’s Light & Heat Co. Building (44 West 16th Street), 1400 Block of Market Street and Kaufmann’s Building (1034-1040 Main St). Discussion will include unique challenges of each building faced during the rehabilitation process and the collaborative process used to overcome the challenges.
Wednesday, September 13
Small-Scale Development Workshop
$35 pre-registration fee
Small-scale, incremental development is a tested approach to cost-effectively preserving
existing buildings, strengthening their blocks, and improving the financial fundamentals
of their contexts over time. Session participants will get an overview of what incremental
development is–the approach, the practice, and its application to common building types
and neighborhoods.
The session will include the following major sections/elements:
- Power of the Incremental Approach
- What makes a good project
- Challenges for small developers
- Keeping wealth local
- STEP Building (Small Scale, Time Enhanced, Entrepreneurial, and Purposeful)
Thursday, September 14
Women in Brownfields
$10 pre-registration fee
This session provides an opportunity to bring women in all aspects of brownfield development – environmental, community development, and economic development, to name a few – together to find ways to support one another in our professional development, as well as to encourage other women to enter the field.