A Review of Showcase Community Partnerships

Prepared by Technical Outreach Services for Communities
Kansas State University
July 31, 2003

Purpose

The Technical Outreach Services for Communities (TOSC) program conducted this review at the request of Elly Walkowiak, Des Moines Showcase Coordinator. The rationale for this review was to identify new partnership opportunities for the Des Moines Brownfields Program by investigating what kinds of partnerships other Showcase Communities had developed.

Methodology

TOSC requested Showcase coordinators and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) project officers provide copies of EPA quarterly reports. Requests for reports were made on February 22, 2002, to Showcase Community contacts and on March 27, 2002, to EPA Regional Showcase contacts. Follow-up phone calls were made in an effort to secure participation of as many Showcase Communities as possible. A follow-up request for information was made by Ellen Walkowiak on September 6, 2002. Of 28 Showcase Communities, 14 provided data for this review.

The following information was extracted from quarterly EPA reports and other documents provided by Showcase Community contacts: types of partnerships, type and level of funding, and description of partnership activity. Details regarding the above information is located in the appendices.

Findings

Types of partnerships
A review of the quarterly reports resulted in identification of the following types of partners: federal, state and tribal government, local government, private/non-profit organizations, university/colleges, and community groups. Federal and state partnerships were the most common types of partners reported by Showcase coordinators. Two categories of partnerships are under-utilized by many Showcase Communities – community groups and colleges and universities. Out of 14 Showcase Communities, 12 did not report any partnerships with community groups. Seven Showcase Communities reported no partnerships with any local governments, private/non-governmental organizations, or colleges and universities. Only one partnership with a tribal government was reported (Eastward Ho!).

Federal partners
An analysis of the reported federal partners revealed a wide range of agencies involved in brownfield redevelopment projects. The Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Economic Development Administration were the federal agencies most cited as partners by Showcase Communities. Less common, but still prevalent, federal partners included the Department of Justice, General Services Administration, National Park Service, Department of Energy, Small Business Administration, and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Rarer federal partners included the National Aeronautic and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, Forest Service, Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Geological Survey, National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Federal Emergency Management Administration. Elected officials at the federal level were also identified as partners.

State, tribal, and local governments
Many state partnerships have been formed with three principles types of partners – environmental, natural resource, agriculture, or forest agencies; financial or economic agencies; and state governments and elected officials. Less common partnerships at the state level included departments of transportation, communities, and judicial branches.

One showcase community listed a tribal government as a partner. There are showcase communities located on tribal lands, but none of those partnerships are represented in this review.

Approximately 50% of local government partnerships were reported as municipalities (city and county government entities). Rarer partnerships reported included school districts, public works and city services, planning commissions, and departments of natural resources or environment.

Private/non-profit partnerships
Partnerships with the private sector included both business and for-profit enterprises and non-profit organizations. Types of business partnerships reported included industry, developers, and consultants. Non-profit partners were generally organizations involved in environmental issues, and to a lesser extent, economic and community development.

Universities and colleges
Very few partnerships with colleges and universities were reported. Out of 291 partnerships, 13 represented universities and colleges. When these partners were utilized in Showcase Communities, they were usually partners in federal grants, such as the Housing and Urban Development’s Community Outreach Partnership Centers Program, or EPA’s Job Training and Development Program. Colleges and universities are also tapped as consultants on technical issues.

Community partnerships
Perhaps the most underutilized resource in brownfield redevelopment are community partnerships. Out of 291 partnerships, six of them were reported as community partners. Out of 14 Showcase Communities, two reported relationships with community groups. These community partners represented either local neighborhood groups, special interest organizations at the community level, or coalitions of community and neighborhood organizations.

References

Auster, Lucy. 2002. “Thirteenth quarterly report to EPA, King County/Seattle Showcase Community, October 1 – December 31, 2001.” Seattle, Washington.

Dennies, Sandy. 2002. Personal communication. February 25, 2002.

Hayes, Timothy, 2000. “Project partners, May 2000.” Northampton County Dept. of Sustainable Economic Development, Virginia.

Henry, Clark. 2002. “Portland brownfield Showcase program, monthly program status report, January 2002.” Portland, Oregon.

International City/County Management Association. 2001. “Los Angeles, California: A model for brownfields teamwork.” Brownfield blueprints: A study of the Showcase Communities initiative. Superfund/Brownfield Research Initiative.

Kansas City Brownfield Initiative. 2002. “Kansas City, Missouri brownfields cleanup revolving loan fund program, quarterly report October 1, 2001 to December 31, 2001.” Kansas City, Missouri.

Lane, Brian. 2002. Personal communication, March 14, 2002.

Lombardo, Ginny. 2002. “Brownfields Showcase Community quarterly progress report, October 1, 2001 – December 31, 2001.” Mystic Valley Development Commission. Malden, Massachusetts.

Lombardo, Ginny. 2001. “Brownfields Showcase Community quarterly progress report, June 1-September 30, 2001.” Mystic Valley Development Commission. Malden, Massachusetts.

Lombardo, Ginny. 2002. “Brownfields Showcase Community quarterly progress report, January 1-March 31, 2002.” Mystic Valley Development Commission. Malden, Massachusetts.

Manning, Terry. 2002. “Brownfields assessment demonstration pilot (Showcase Community) cooperative agreement, Quarterly progress report, October-December 2001.” South Florida Regional Planning Council, Hollywood, Florida.

Manning, Terry. 2002. “Brownfields assessment demonstration pilot (Showcase Community) cooperative agreement, Quarterly progress report, April-June 2002.” South Florida Regional Planning Council, Hollywood, Florida.

Manning, Terry. 2002. “Brownfields redevelopment in southeast Florida.” South Florida Regional Planning Council, Hollywood, Florida.

Paull, Evans. 2002. “Pilot progress report, March 2002.” Baltimore Brownfields Inititative.

Paull, Evans. 2002. “Pilot progress report, June 2002.” Baltimore Brownfields Inititative.

Smith, Pat, 2002. “Brownfields assessment demonstration pilot, quarterly progress report, October 1-December 31, 2001.” Northhampton County, Virginia.

Tarbet, Valda. 2002. “Salt Lake City brownfields pilot program, quarterly report no. 21, October 1, 2001, through December 31, 2001.” Salt Lake City, Utah.

Appendices

Appendix A - Summary Table

Appendix B - Showcase Community Profiles