Fund Reviews its Brownfield Grantmaking History

For 14 years, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund has supported the remediation and redevelopment of New York City's brownfields. Brownfields are previously developed urban sites that have been affected by environmental contamination limiting their future uses and often falling into disuse.

In light of considerable progress on policy development, the New York City program’s 2010 review of its sustainable development grantmaking recommended continuing, but limiting, support for brownfields reclamation and restoration efforts to: 1) secure additional financing for New York City sites; 2) strengthen the Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) program; 3) help create partnerships among landowners, developers, and community groups to begin remediation; and 4) place New York City in the lead of a national conversation of issue. Believing that these goals had largely been met, the RBF contracted with Anita Nager to provide an overview of the Fund’s work in support of brownfield remediation and redevelopment efforts.

The Story of Brownfields, written by Anita Nager, a recognized leader in the environmental field, documents the Rockefeller Brothers Fund’s 14-year history of brownfield grantmaking and presents a narrative of the foundation’s choices, against a timeline its grantees’ activities and the brownfield remediation and redevelopment efforts of New York City and New York state.

Related Links

Download the report, The Story of Brownfields

Watch the Brownfield Educational Video series by the New York City Office of Environmental Remediation

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