The ECI Brownfields Coalition was formed in 2009 by the members of the Energize-ECI Regional Planning District – Blackford, Delaware, Grant and Jay counties in East Central Indiana. The original reason for the formation of the ECI Brownfields Coalition was to build a support group for a Brownfields Assessment Grant application from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The ECI Brownfields Coalition submitted a $609,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant proposal in the fall of 2010. Grant recipients will be announced in the 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2011. In researching the regional information required for grant preparation, it became obvious to the Energize-ECI Regional Planning District management team that the assessment, remediation and reuse of ECI brownfields was a high priority – and should be developed even if a grant award is not received in the near future. So, we have planned a number of initiatives to identify brownfields in the region and return them to appropriate re-uses and back to the property tax bases of our communities. These initiatives include creating a master inventory of sites, identifying priority sites, applying for grants to assess and remediate the sites, foster engagement of the public, provide assistance to the local government entities, collaborate with other organizations interested in transforming brownfields, launching a website to communicate information, advocate to eliminate brownfields as commercial and industrial blight, conduct educational seminars and workshops; and develop the economic aspects of the sites – new jobs and capital investment.

Many brownfields are in prime locations, but because of the fear of environmental contamination, the issue of liability and the cost of cleanup, businesses frequently turn away from these sites in favor of developing prime rural lands on the outskirts of the region’s communities. As a result, a throw-away attitude has prevailed towards brownfield properties as no longer usable. However, by redeveloping brownfield sites, abandoned properties can be recycled and existing infrastructure utilized, easing some of the development pressure on open spaces and rural property.