Brownfields Redevelopment | Missouri Department of Natural Resources; Turning Blight into Beauty

You hear the term “blight” so often when discussing the landscape of our forgotten neighborhoods that it is often hard to see the opportunities these areas still possess. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has spent decades reminding our cities that environmentally hazardous properties still have a lot of life left in them.

MO DNR, through the help of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, has developed a robust program to help interested property owners give new life back to environmentally distressed land. Through the Brownfields Program property owners can apply for financial assistance for the responsible clean up and restoration of environmental hazards on their properties. The eligibility criteria is wide and while the upfront application process is lengthy, the benefit is definitely worth your time. Brownfields can be used for something as simple as asbestos removal or as complex as soil decontamination and everyone is able to apply. This is not a program reserved for big business or municipalities. The Brownfield program prides itself on its successes with the community, with local owners, and the creation of new green spaces. To see some of the more note-able “wins” in our state from Brownfields, or find out how to apply for the program use the link below.

https://dnr.mo.gov/waste-recycling/investigations-cleanups/brownfields-voluntary-cleanup/redevelopment