Excited for gardening in your yard this spring? Or curious about the health of your yard soil? Take advantage of free residential soil lead testing provided by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UConn. 

Why test soil for lead? Although lead is naturally occuring in the environment, various human activities such as the use of lead-based paint, high traffic, sewage sludge, industrial practices, and the use of urban fill materials can lead to lead contamination. Urban areas are at higher risk for exacerbated lead levels that can persist in the soil for extended periods of time and affect people through food contamination or inhalation of lead dust.

What are the dangers of lead contamination? Lead exposure is toxic to everyone. This is especially true for vulnerable populations including children who can face risks of stunted development from lead neurotoxicity, as well as pregnant or breastfeeding individuals who risk passing lead on to their babies.

How can lead exposure be reduced? Practices such as avoiding physical contact with contaminated soils, wearing gloves during gardening, and discouraging children from playing in affected areas can drastically prevent exposure to lead. Furthermore, safe gardening practices such as planting sunflowers, ragweed, duckweed, mustard greens, and ornamental cabbage that efficiently absorb metals from the soil as well as the use of raised gardening beds with clean soil when planting food can help mitigate the harm of lead contamination.

How will lead levels be tested? Once you collect samples from your yard following this guide, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UConn will use Portable X-RAY Fluorescence (pXRF) technology to quickly and reliably detect the presence of lead, no matter how low the concentration level.

For inquiries or to opt-in for soil testing, contact Hayley Clos at hayley.clos@uconn.edu.

Understanding and addressing soil lead contamination is essential for safeguarding public health and promoting sustainable gardening practices. Take advantage of this opportunity to ensure your yard is safe for gardening this season!

UConn TAB is currently accepting applications for the Summer 2024 Municipal Assistance Program (MAP). The MAP is open to all New England communities at no cost to the applicant. 

Summer RFP

• Interviews: Late April
• Dates: May- August
• Services Provided:  Technical Support on Brownfields Redevelopment including brownfields inventories, summaries of environmental records, site reuse assessments, record reviews, data gap analysis, grant support, and community engagement materials
• Applications deadline: April 12th
• Application Link: https://tab.program.uconn.edu/map-requests-for-proposals/

The proposals will be supported through the University of Connecticut Summer Brownfield Internships.  If you have any questions before applying, please reach out to us at uconn-tab@uconn.edu

UConn TAB 2023 Annual Impact

In 2023, UConn TAB made progress towards its mission of supporting New England communities in their efforts towards brownfield redevelopment. This past year, UConn TAB supported 166 communities across Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island through direct technical assistance and their Municipal Assistance Program(MAP). Services supported by both initiatives totaled 257 actions.

MAP is a project-based program that runs 3 times a year. Accepted municipalities are partnered with students from the UConn brownfields course. The students are overseen by a UConn TAB team member and work on projects such as grant support, brownfield inventories, site reuse assessments, record reviews, and data gap analysis. During the 2023 year, 41 entities participated in MAP: 12 in the Fall and 29 in the Spring and Summer.

One of the most popular and successful services provided by UConn TAB is the EPA brownfields grant review. During the FY24 request for proposals, UConn TAB reviewed 28 grant applications with 61% of these reviews supporting environmental justice communities. In the review process, participants receive templates, support in data collection, examples of past successful grants, proposal review, and submission assistance. While the FY24(2023) applicants are still waiting for news on their applications, the UConn TAB team had an 83% success rate during the FY23(2022) cycle.

Feedback from the recipients of our grant review resources found our resources to be “extremely useful”, with the most helpful being proposal review and data collection. Recipients also revealed that they felt “extremely knowledgeable” and “very prepared” with the EPA grant writing and application process after receiving our assistance. Similar positive feedback was seen from MAP participants, “The MAP program is a valuable asset to both the students and the towns it serves. Tangible results for all involved!”

All support provided by UConn TAB is completely free to communities, states, Tribal Nations, and other public entities. Send us an email to learn more!

To learn more about our Municipal Assistance Program and how to apply visit our website. https://tab.program.uconn.edu/map-acc/

uconn-tab@uconn.edu

 

 

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About: The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is for the University of Connecticut Technical Assistance to Brownfields Program (UConn TAB – https://tab.program.uconn.edu/) to request submissions of Proposals from companies, organizations, and individuals to provide assistance and support to ensure that Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine communities and eligible entities are aware of the EPA brownfield grant opportunities and the services that UConn TAB can provide to help these entities take advantage of these brownfield grant opportunities. The selected “Brownfield Ambassador” (one for both VT and NH and one for ME) will contract directly with UConn TAB and help UConn TAB facilitate the delivery of brownfield assistance services equitably to communities in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Full RFP:
20240103_RFP_NorthernAmbassador VT NH
20240103_RFP_NorthernAmbassador_Maine

Deadlines:
Question & Answers (RFI) Due Date and Time 2/7/2024 4:00 PM
Proposal Due Date and Time 2/16/2024 4:00 PM

Join UConn TAB for our Spring Webinar series. Links to register for the webinars as well as more information will be updated continuously.

Register for the webinars:
February 7th (12:00 PM – 12:30 PM)  – UConn TAB Webinar – SEEDS Framework (Strategies for Community Engagement)
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uconn-tab-webinar-seeds-framework-strategies-for-community-engagement-tickets-804044798637?aff=oddtdtcreator

March 6th (12:00 PM – 12:30 PM)  – UConn TAB Webinar – Stakeholder Analysis (Strategies for Community Engagement)
Register Here:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uconn-tab-webinar-stakeholder-analysis-tickets-804056985087?aff=oddtdtcreator

March 20th (12:00 PM – 12:30 PM)  – UConn TAB Webinar – Procurement Services
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uconn-tab-webinar-procurement-services-tickets-804079111267?aff=oddtdtcreator

April 3rd (12:00 PM – 12:30 PM)  – UConn TAB Webinar – SWOT Analysis (Strategies for Community Engagement)
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uconn-tab-webinar-swot-analysis-a-community-engagement-tool-tickets-804064778397?aff=oddtdtcreator

May 15th (12:00 PM – 1:00 PM)  – UConn TAB Webinar – Past EPA Brownfields Grantees Panel
Register Here:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uconn-tab-webinar-past-grantees-panel-tickets-804081187477?aff=oddtdtcreator

UConn TAB is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2024 Municipal Assistance Program (MAP). The MAP is open to all New England communities at no cost to the applicant. 

Spring RFP

• Dates: January – May
• Services Provided:  Technical Support on Brownfields Redevelopment including brownfields inventories, record reviews, data gap analysis, site reuse assessments, and community engagement support and materials
• Applications deadline: December 15th
• Application Link: https://tab.program.uconn.edu/map-requests-for-proposals/
• Learn More: https://tab.program.uconn.edu/workshops-webinars/

The proposals will be supported through the University of Connecticut Spring 2024 UConn Brownfield Redevelopment course.  If you have any questions before applying, please reach out to us at uconn-tab@uconn.edu

Call for Presentations & Sessions
Deadline: Friday October 27, 2023

Summit Organizers
Northeast Waste Management Officials Association (NEWMOA) University of Connecticut Technical Assistance to Brownfield Communities (UConn TAB)
Summit Partners
Environmental Agency Brownfield Programs: ·         EPA Region 1 ·         Connecticut DEEP ·         Maine DEP ·         Penobscot Indian Nation (Maine) ·         Massachusetts DEP ·         New Hampshire DES ·         Rhode Island DEM ·         Vermont DEC	Economic Development Agencies: ·         CT Department of Economic & Community Development ·         ME Department of Economic & Community Development ·         MassDevelopment ·         NH Department of Business & Economic Affairs ·         RI Commerce Corporation ·         VT Agency of Commerce & Community Development

 

Goals of the Regional Summit:

Summit Participants:

·         Share information about the financial incentives, liability protections, technical and other assistance available for brownfields development from federal and state governments ·         Promote best practice and lessons learned across New England ·         Provide an opportunity to increase networking and information-sharing among key stakeholders

·         State, tribal, and federal government brownfields and waste site cleanup programs ·         Local, regional, and state economic development agencies ·         Real estate developers, financial institutions, and legal firms ·         Planning and economic development consulting firms ·         Local governments ·         Interested citizens & groups ·         Job training grantees ·         Environmental professionals

The two-day Summit will include plenary and break-out sessions and an exhibit area. There will be ample time during the breaks for networking and viewing the exhibits.

Summit organizers are soliciting proposals for complete 75-minute sessions or individual 20-minute presentations. All proposals will be considered, but complete 75-minute sessions are preferred.

Proposing a 75-minute Session
There are two types of sessions we are soliciting proposals for:

• A site-specific case-study of a project in one of the New England states that illustrates financing, coalition-building, unique site considerations, and lessons learned. We intend to have one case study session for each of the six states.
• Sessions on the following topics (or on other relevant topics that you are free to suggest):
• Leveraging External Funds
• Gentrification & Displacement in Brownfield Redevelopment – Affordable Housing & Green Spaces
• Liability Challenges & Solutions for Stakeholders/Municipalities
• Climate Change & Brownfield Redevelopment – Stormwater Adaptation & Resilient Infrastructure
• Engaging the Community – Developing a Community Engagement Plan/Creating a Brownfields Task Force
• Environmental Justice
• Engaging Property Owners/Developers – Marketing Brownfields Sites to Developers
• Renewable Energy on Brownfields
• Risk Management
• Best Practices for Beneficial Reuse of Fill on Brownfields Sites
• Land Banking Brownfields Sites
• Urban Agriculture on Brownfields
• Marketing Your Revolving Loan Fund
• Emerging Contaminants at Brownfields

Each session will be 75 minutes and should have 3 presenters and a moderator. Each presentation should be a maximum of 20 minutes in length, leaving 15 minutes for audience Q&A. Presentations can be shorter, allowing time for a panel format/discussion.

Submit a proposal for a 75-minute session HERE (or copy this link into your browser if you encounter security issues: https://forms.gle/gNKHSU37UPqWPFxA8) or access the online form from the Summit webpage at: www.newmoa.org/event/brownfields-summit-2024. The submission deadline is Friday October 27, 2023. The Google form will require you to briefly describe the session content and key learning objectives, suggest a catchy title, and identify the presenters and moderator.

Proposing an Individual 20-minute Presentation
Suggested presentation topics are listed above, or you can propose a different topic. Submit a proposal for a 20 minute-presentation HERE (or copy this link into your browser if you encounter security issues: https://forms.gle/Bp7Rbr5TnfeDL85n7) or access the online form from the Summit webpage at: www.newmoa.org/event/brownfields-summit-2024. The submission deadline is Friday October 27, 2023. The Google form will require you to briefly describe the presentation content and key learning objectives and suggest a catchy title.

Sponsoring the Summit
Consider enhancing the visibility of your organization by Sponsoring the Summit! For information on becoming a Sponsor, visit www.newmoa.org/event/brownfields-summit-2024 or contact Jennifer Griffith at jgriffith@newmoa.org.

Join UConn TAB for our Fall Webinar series. Links to register for the webinars as well as more information will be updated continuously.

Register for the webinars:
September 20th (12PM – 1PM)  – Community Engagement & MAC Grants Webinar
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-engagement-mac-grants-webinar-tickets-717121288077?aff=oddtdtcreator

October 4th (12 PM – 1PM) – Guide to EJSCREEN and EPA MAC Grants Webinar
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/guide-to-ejscreen-epa-mac-grant-webinar-tickets-717129582887?aff=oddtdtcreator

October 13th (12PM – 1PM) – Public Health Data for MAC Grants Webinar
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/public-health-data-for-mac-grants-webinar-webinar-tickets-717131659097?aff=oddtdtcreator

October 18th (12 PM – 1PM) – Displacement: Identifying & Addressing it on your EPA MAC Grant Webinar
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/displacement-identifying-addressing-it-on-your-epa-mac-grant-webinar-tickets-717135971997?aff=oddtdtcreator

November 1st (12 PM – 1PM) – Community Engagement: Discussing Affordable Housing
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-engagement-discussing-affordable-housing-webinar-tickets-717136914817?aff=oddtdtcreator

UConn TAB is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2023 Municipal Assistance Program (MAP). The MAP is open to all New England communities at no cost to the applicant. 

Fall RFP

• Dates: August 29th – December 8th
• Services Provided: Support on EPA Brownfield Grant Applications
• Applications deadline: July 15th
• Application Link: https://tab.program.uconn.edu/map-requests-for-proposals/ 

The proposals will be supported through the University of Connecticut summer interns and Fall 2023 UConn Brownfield Redevelopment course.  If you have any questions before applying, please reach out to us at uconn-tab@uconn.edu