Brownfield workshop scheduled for June in Escanaba

Escanaba will host one of four statewide workshops focused on brownfield redevelopment in June. 

The series of four workshops come from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and each have a different focus.

"Putting It All Together" is the theme for the Escanaba workshop, which will be held on June 23 in Escanaba. It runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be held at Bay College.

The MDNRE's Carrie Geyer says the all-day workshop is open to anyone who's interested, whether that's local government officials, economic development movers and shakers, municipal planners, environmental and building consultants, attorneys, or local brownfield authority members. The workshop is designed for people with varying experience with brownfield development.

"For the workshop in Escanaba, we're kind of combining basics, like getting familiar with brownfields, what a brownfield authority does, and the rules and requirements in the morning, and then in the afternoon, we'll spend more time covering how to write a work plan, working with state authorities, and that sort of thing," Geyer says.

While past brownfield seminars have focused on education, information and current events in redevelopment, Geyer says this year many of the sessions have a distinctly hands-on approach.

"This year what's unique is that we're doing some more hands-on, actual training of how-tos, like how do you write a work plan or how you get a brownfield plan approved," she says.

Other presentations include updates on state programs and policies, public development, financing brownfield projects in the current economy, and maximizing state brownfield incentives.

Registration is required for the workshop, and can be done online.

For registration information, contact the Environmental Assistance Center at 1-800-662-9278, or e-mail. Workshop-specific questions can be directed to Carrie Geyer at 517-335-6871, or e-mail.