Advice from Other Pilot Participants

Text Version

These suggestions about starting a pilot are provided by others who have experience with Brownfields programs. The List of Useful Resources to Get Started provides an overview of helpful resources for starting a pilot effort. General Brownfields Pointers contains more general suggestions on several subject areas from participants with experience in the Brownfields pilot program.

List of Useful Resources to Get Started

General Brownfields Pointers

Setting Goals

• Set measurable, reasonable goals for the pilot program. Do not over estimate the pilot's objectives - it is far better to be realistic than to set the program up to fail or fall short.

• Emphasize to the community that the pilot program is just a first step toward local job creation, increased tax revenues, and economic rejuvenation.

• Identify goals beyond addressing specific, identified sites; focus on developing a process and infrastructure for redeveloping other brownfields as well.

• Make innovation and creativity a priority, constantly looking for opportunities to break out of traditional roles and overcome long-standing barriers.

Key Stakeholder Outreach

• Identify key stakeholder groups and their roles in the brownfields process. This can only happen through continued interaction and productive communication with each stakeholder group. Be patient - it may take a while for each group to learn and understand its role in the process.

• Ensure that communication with stakeholder groups presents clear and logical arguments for what role stakeholders can play in the pilot process. Stakeholders will not necessarily support the pilot program unless you make clear how their needs and interests will be met through participation.

• If your State has a Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP), learn about it early in the pilot process to determine how the State VCP and pilot can work together. Make contact and maintain a relationship with VCP personnel.

• Use simple concepts to explain the pilot program to ensure that all stakeholders understand the critical messages you are trying to communicate. For example, you will quickly lose your audience's attention if you use acronyms or technical terms. It may be more effective to use common, illustrative language with simple graphics to communicate key brownfields messages.

Partnerships

• Develop a broad geographic focus that cuts across jurisdictional lines, allowing for team work and resource sharing among affected communities.

• Communicate and share information with other communities addressing similar brownfields issues. Avenues of communication should always be open for other communities experiencing similar challenges.

• Use State environmental and EPA Regional offices as resources. These organizations can provide a broad understanding of brownfields challenges and other opportunities that may not be recognized at the local level.