MVPC Community and Economic Development Planner, Nate Robertson, and Environmental Program Manager, Jennifer Hughes, attended the National Brownfields Conference hosted by EPA in sunny Los Angeles, December 11-13. The conference featured educational sessions and mobile workshops including many showcasing the City of Angels and the redevelopment in the surrounding region. Also in attendance were Lawrence Planning Director, Theresa Park, and Economic Development Project Manager, Esther Encarnacion.

At the conference, representatives from the Merrimack Valley region met with their peers from across the country to discuss common challenges and share success stories. The opportunity to learn what other communities are doing enables MVPC to stay ahead of the curve and maximizes our ability to serve the region through Brownfields funds.

MVPC is the recipient of EPA grants that fund both an Assessment Program and Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund. MVPC is currently working with Amesbury, Merrimac, Haverhill, Lawrence, and Newburyport on Brownfield projects. The photo above is of the Clipper City Rail Trail project in Newburyport. MVPC executed a grant agreement to provide an additional $100,000 for cleanup of contamination on the site so the City can proceed with a rail-trail connection.