Recognizing the value in collaborative problem solving in brownfields redevelopment, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection created the GENTL strategy for community engagement. The acronym stands for:
Go Where the People Are
Existing Network
Non-Traditional Partners
Look for Unique Funding Sources
This approach centers community voices in decision-making, addresses health and safety concerns, and transforms distressed properties into neighborhood assets.
The session will present case studies from New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Oregon using the GENTL strategy. Participants will learn how to develop customized plans tailored to the interests and needs of the community and learn how they can employ the GENTL strategy in their brownfields projects.