Meet Linda Breggin

"Brownfields redevelopment is such an attractive concept because it can achieve the economic goal of revitalizing inner city areas while simultaneously cleaning up the environment," says Senior Attorney Linda Breggin. "Despite considerable attention from policymakers, however, nationwide many brownfield sites remain to be addressed."

As Co-Director of the ELI Brownfields Center, Breggin is working to make cleanup and redevelopment of these sites easier. Her goal is for the Center to become the complete resource for all brownfields stakeholders.

The Center provides a growing array of tools to facilitate redevelopment. Examples include guidebooks and other documents to make the restoration process simpler to understand and initiate. The Center will soon have a Web site that will offer a storehouse for brownfields information and key contacts, as well as serve as an interactive network for governments, businesses, and communities to share information.

Thanks to a new grant from the Ford Foundation, the Center will expand its work to include a special focus on delivering tools to citizens so that they can recognize redevelopment opportunities in their neighborhoods and attract government and business support. The Center is also working with state and local governments to draft model brownfields legislation and develop effective regulatory programs.

"By providing information and promoting dialogue, we believe all sectors with a stake in restoration will be better able to identify brownfields opportunities and to overcome remaining barriers to cleanup and redevelopment."

"It is difficult to achieve, but an effective marriage of cleanup, redevelopment, and institutional controls improves the local economy, revitalizes neighborhoods, and protects public health and the environment."