Collaboration in Brownfield Redevelopment Takes Center Stage at the 2025 NBTC

Last week, the National Brownfields Training Conference (NBTC 2025) brought together over 2,000 professionals from across the environmental, economic development, real estate development, and regulatory sectors – and one takeaway echoed throughout McCormick Place:  collaboration is the key to successful brownfield redevelopment.  Whether it’s transforming an abandoned factory into mixed-use housing or revitalizing a long-forgotten industrial corridor, brownfield projects succeed when environmental consultants, economic development organizations (EDOs), property developers, and regulators come together early and work toward a shared vision.  As an exhibitor and proud sponsor, EnviroLearn was on-site at NBTC 2025, engaging with professionals across disciplines and highlighting how accessible, on-demand environmental education can help build stronger, more informed project teams – because effective collaboration begins with shared understanding.

The Collaborative Equation:  Consultants + EDOs + Property Developers + Regulators

At NBTC 2025, the power of early collaboration was more than a talking point – it was a theme woven into each panel, forum, roundtable, and meeting.  Each group brings something vital to brownfield redevelopment:

• Environmental Consultants analyze site conditions, manage remediation strategies, and ensure regulatory compliance.

• Economic Development Organizations align redevelopment with local goals, attract investment, and navigate funding sources.

• Property Developers bring vision, capital, and capacity to transform dormant sites into functional spaces.

• Regulators provide oversight, establish cleanup requirements, and ensure long-term environmental and public health protections.

When these groups work together from day one, projects move faster, risks decrease, and outcomes improve – for both the environment and the community.

NBTC 2025 Highlights:  Collaboration in Action

The conference showcased numerous examples of collaboration done right.  Key sessions included:

• Case studies of former industrial sites turned into vibrant community assets – thanks to partnerships between consultants, EDOs, developers, and regulatory agencies.

• Panels on stakeholder alignment, including how to set shared expectations around cleanup timelines, liability, and reuse planning.

• Roundtables with EPA and state agencies, offering insight into emerging regulations and funding mechanisms.

As a sponsor and exhibitor, EnviroLearn had the opportunity to connect with attendees from every sector – many of whom emphasized the growing need for consistent, accessible training to keep teams aligned across complex redevelopment efforts.

Brownfield redevelopment doesn’t begin with cleanup – it begins with people.  When consultants, EDOs, developers, and regulators work together, and when all parties are empowered with the knowledge they need, communities thrive.  Whether you’re launching a new project or navigating a complex cleanup, remember what NBTC reinforced: collaboration and education are your strongest tools.

Were you at NBTC 2025?  Reconnect with your new contacts.  Review your notes.  Look for ways to apply what you learned – and where training can fill the gaps.

Need to uplevel your team’s skills?  Visit EnviroLearn’s Training Programs page to explore our growing library of online environmental training courses – built for professionals across the brownfield redevelopment spectrum.  Ready to purchase a course – send us an email at ann@envirolearntraining.com and we’ll send you a discount code.  Hurry though – code expires on Monday, August 18, 2025!

Keep the momentum going.  Collaboration doesn’t end when the conference does.  It starts every time you bring knowledge and perspective to the table.