Brownfields programs are a relatively recent public policy innovation in which partnerships between federal, state, and local government agencies and private sector developers are leveraged to address abandoned, underutilized and contaminated properties. There are as many different brownfields programs as there are states and each state program has its own requirements and unique approach to community involvement in the redevelopment process. States show great variability in their use of public participation tools such as public notice, public hearings and community meetings. A majority of brownfields sites are found in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities where there is often limited opportunity for residents to be involved in decision making.
Duke's study aims to identify which public participation tools and strategies are most beneficial in enhancing low-income community involvement in brownfields redevelopment decision making.
Research focuses on four states: Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, and North Carolina. A total of twelve brownfield case study sites were chosen for study, three from each state. Interviews with state-level personnel, local government employees, developers, and community members have helped to reveal the different perspectives of stakeholder groups and the challenges confronted in increasing socioeconomically disadvantaged resident participation. The ultimate goal of the research is to inform federal, state, and local decision makers about how specific public participation tools and strategies may be used to constructively enhance community involvement in low income communities.