Expertise You Can RELY On

services - Brownfields, Planning & Capacity Building

  • EPA Brownfields Grant Management & Training

  • Brownfields Redevelopment Process

  • Brownfields Inventories & Marketing

  • Trainings/Workshops

  • Presentations and Webinars

  • Grant Writing/Reviews

  • Community Engagement

  • Visioning & Reuse

  • Strategic Planning

  • Highest and Best Use Analysis/Land Use

  • Peer Groups/Facilitation

“The City started working with Joelle after we completed a multi-million dollar environmental cleanup of a large retail/commercial waterfront parcel. She helped us create a marketing plan, and a RFQ, to find the right developer and development. Joelle provided us wonderful insights and suggestions on what we wanted to do, and how to accomplish it. Her help was critical in getting us to the point that we now have three wonderful developers vying for the project.”

- Ray Young, City Manager, Troutdale, OR

“Ponderay is a small rural city in North Idaho that is working hard to make the most of the opportunities that the EPA Brownfields program has to offer. Joelle is a treasure, she is a wealth of knowledge and is eager to share and support a small city like ours through the process.”

- Erik Brubaker, Community Development Director, Ponderay, Idaho

Brownfields

I’ve been in the brownfields arena for over thirty years and have experienced it from many different angles and through many different lenses. From visioning to finding creative funding mechanisms to make projects a reality - there is no brownfields project that I have found to be a “lost cause”. Helping communities, tribes and organizations harness their potential and find “second acts” for them is my jam. Simply put, brownfields are a real estate transaction with an environmental twist. I’m passionate about what I do, infusing humor whenever I can, and spreading knowledge to make this world a better place.

Planning

The built environment is a reflection of a community. It should embody placemaking as well as placekeeping; ensuring the preservation of its culture, history and social fabric. Planning should be holistic and create environments where policies support residential needs as well as leveraging opportunities for economic development, balanced housing, recreational spaces and promoting the well-being of all. It is not about “us” versus “them”, but rather a conversation to explore all options and to make informed decisions - decisions for not only now, but for a resilient and sustainable future.

capacity

Your organization is only as good as its internal management and capacity. Identifying weaknesses and making the necessary changes to address them, will ultimately make it more stable, competitive and resilient. Do you have the necessary policies and procedures in place to accomplish your goals? Do you need funding but don’t have the capacity to manage grants? Do you understand procurement regulations especially with federal awards? Addressing these and other questions will help you to realize your fullest potential to be competitive and ready to scale.

webinars/PODCAST/BLOGS

Match Maker: Demystifying the 20% Cost Share in Brownfields Grants (2026)

Procurement 2.0: Navigating the Latest EPA Procurement Requirements (2026)

Now What?! Your Action Plan for the Grant Waiting Game (2026)

Beyond the Numbers: How to Write an Accurate Grant Budget (2025)

Grant of No Grant - Workplans and Procurement (2025)

Dynamic Blueprints: A Game Plan for your Workplan (2024)

Proactive Procurement: Two Part Series (2024):

Day 1: Proactive Procurement: How to Ask for & Get What You Want
Day 2: Managing Contracts & Contractors (Day 2)

ReMARCable Opportunities: FY2023 Guidelines & Tips to Strengthen
Your Application

Nuclear Communities Forum 2022: Site Reuse and Regional Planning

Principles of Brownfields Redevelopment

Turning a Liability Into an Asset: Remediating & Redeveloping Brownfields in NJ

REDevelopment Institute Podcast: Ep. 8 “Expanding the Brownfields Table”

Events

MATCH MAKER: Demystifying
tHE 20% Cost Share for brownfields grants

Yes, the 20% cost share is back. While this webinar has passed, it’s never too late to learn about the required cost share for cleanup, multipurpose and revolving loan fund grants. Especially since it is a threshold criteria - meaning it is a pass/fail criteria in order for your application to move on in the review process. This information-packed 60 minute webinar provides much of what you need to know about the return of the 20% cost share requirement for brownfields grants. Well it never left, it was suspended during the IIJA that sunsetted in June. We’ll discuss what cost share is, why it exists (oh yes, 2 CFR 200 again), eligible v. ineligible costs, identifying match sources and creative strategies in meeting your match. It doesn’t have to be cash nor does it have to solely come from you. Take a look and if you need assistance please reach out! Don’t let cost share deter you!

September 15, 2026

“When it comes to brownfields - there are no lost causes - only possibilities”
- J. Greenland

“Prior to working with Joelle, the topic of brownfield remediation was an impenetrable jungle of acronyms, funding streams, jargon, and municipal/state/federal agencies. Joelle was able to untangle this alphabet soup, lower my anxiety levels, and show me a path forward. she does this work with humor and empathy, and I recommend her services without reservation.”

-Groundwork Milwaukee, Wisconsin