In West Virginia communities, housing is not an amenity; it is infrastructure. Without it, workforce recruitment stalls, downtown revitalization loses its foundation, and the people who show up to do the work of community building have nowhere to live. This panel brings together practitioners and local leaders from West Virginia communities at different stages of housing-focused redevelopment, examining the extent of housing needs in West Virginia, opportunities that underutilized properties present, and what it takes to move those properties to a viable residential project in a thin rural market. Conversation will center on the housing market, financing, community trust, and the role of strategic planning in making housing visible as an economic development priority and not just a social service response. Attendees will leave with practical examples applicable to their own communities, and an honest account of what is working, what is not, and why these projects matter.
Brownfields Job Training programs do more than remediate contaminated properties—they create pathways to meaningful careers while advancing community revitalization.
This session explores the U.S. EPA Brownfields Job Training (BJT) Grant Program, which recently awarded approximately $12 million to 25 communities to recruit and train unemployed and underemployed individuals for environmental careers. Attendees will learn about program eligibility, and how grant funding supports workforce development initiatives.
The presentation will also highlight the Brownfields Technician Training Program at Employment Skills Center, a current BJT Grantee. Their program was developed through collaboration with workforce and industry partners, and uses targeted curriculum, hands-on instruction, and industry-recognized certifications such as HAZWOPER, asbestos, and lead training, to ensure graduates gain job-ready skills that support environmental remediation and redevelopment projects. Presenters will offer practical strategies for building workforce pipelines that strengthen local economies, address environmental challenges, and create lasting community benefits.
Throughout the state, more people are interested in historic downtown development. However, many cannot access financial incentives because of outdated National Register nominations completed over 40 years ago. Learn why keeping National Register nominations current is important and how it can impact development in your community.
Securing the cleanup funding for brownfield properties is just one step along the way in a larger revitalization process. Implementation of project reuse goals requires a mix of funding options and as the EPA Grant allocation for post-remediation planning is shrinking, communities are considering alternative programs and funding to support reuse. This talk will explore how other federal grant opportunities, through such agencies as DOT, FEMA, EDA, and HUD, can support brownfield revitalization projects while achieving co-benefits. We will discuss best practices for developing strong grant applications, matching alternative funding with project pieces, conducting meaningful stakeholder engagement, and stacking funding to complete redevelopment.
Carrie M. Staton is the Director of the Northern WV Brownfields Assistance Center at West Virginia University. Carrie provides strategic direction and oversight for the Center and its programs, including development and management of internal processes; program development and implementation... Read More →
With recent updates to FEMA flood maps, many West Virginia communities are finding more and more of their downtown properties in the federally designated floodplain. This designation creates new challenges for reuse and redevelopment, especially for historic properties. When flood management and historic preservation seem to be at odds, it can feel like the community's hands are tied. All is not lost! In this session, property redevelopment and flood resilience experts will share insight on how floodplain sites can strengthen cultural assets and spur economic development while also preparing for the next flood event. Using examples from around the state, participants will learn how, with the right strategy and the right resources, flood-impacted properties can continue to drive development.
This workshop will be geared toward WV Licensed Remediation Specialists (LRS) participants as part of their continuing education credits. The workshop will stop at the former McGinnis and ACF Industries locations, and from there tour the Marshall University Advanced Manufacturing Robotic Welding & Robotics Center (under construction and scheduled to be opened in October 2026), the Kroger Marketplace (construction starting later in 2026), and the Marshall University Jack Cook Baseball Stadium. Environmental contaminants encountered will be reviewed and cleanup methods utilized discussed. While this workshop is primarily for LRS participants, other conference attendees are welcome to sign up and attend.
This mobile workshop occurs on Thursday, September 10, 2026. Participants can check in at 1:30 PM. The tour departs at 2 PM.
