City to co-host free Brownfield Workshop

Community leaders interested in economic development through revitalization of abandoned or potentially contaminated buildings are welcome to attend a free workshop from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Thursday in Rooms 203-204 at the Hot Springs Convention Center, 134 Convention Blvd.

The Brownfield Workshop is being co-hosted by the city, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and the Technical Assistance to Brownfields Program at Kansas State University.

The term “brownfield” refers to a piece of urban land previously developed that has become abandoned, obsolete or potentially contaminated. The workshop is designed to help communities gain a better understanding of what a brownfield is, learn how brownfield revitalization can be a part of the community’s economic development strategy and hear from state and national leaders on resources available to the community.

The workshop is open to the public and will focus on information for Arkansas communities. Local and regional government officials, not-for-profit economic and community development organizations and anyone interested in learning about brownfields or about financial resources for local redevelopment are welcome to attend.

Space is limited and registration is recommended. For application forms, agendas, other information and to register, visit http://www.ksutab.org/education/workshops/ or contact Deputy City Manager Lance Spicer at lspicer@cityhs.net, or 501-3216860, Katie Kreps, ADEQ, Arkansas Brownfield Program, at krepsk@adeq.state.ar.us, or 501682-0872 or Scott Nightingale, KSU TAB, at scottnight@ksu. edu, or 785-532-6021.