Herkimer, NY – The 4th Annual Mohawk Valley Brownfield Developer Summit is set to take place on April 29-30, 2025, at Herkimer College in Herkimer, NY. Organized by the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District (MVEDD) in partnership with local economic development agencies from Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego, Schoharie, and Lewis Counties, this year’s summit will focus on catalyzing the redevelopment of 22 blighted sites across the region. These sites, which have long been underutilized due to suspect environmental challenges, are ready to be repositioned into thriving economic assets.
The theme of the 2025 summit highlights the growing role of the Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) program and the collaborative efforts of regional communities to unlock the potential of contaminated or blighted properties. The New York State Department of State (DOS) has sponsored more than ten BOAs in the Mohawk Valley, meaning, direct funding and technical assistance to organize community-driven, area-wide plans to effectively redevelop brownfields and other vacant, abandoned and underutilized property. This year’s event will showcase 22 real estate investment opportunities, many of which are located within a BOA, and further highlight technical and financial assistance motivating investment in New York’s Mohawk Valley today. 
“Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) funding from DOS has powered the transformation of Oneida County, “said Marc Baracco, Chief of Staff Mohawk Valley EDGE. “We just executed an agreement to begin EPA Assessment on the former Mele Site on Erie Street in the City of Utica. We are all but one document away from moving forward on the former Legends property in the City of Rome as well.”
The progress is attributed to $3 million in public pre-development funding investments from NY DOS and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently in motion across the region.
Key Highlights of the Summit Include:
- Regional Brownfield Planning Efforts: Herkimer, Montgomery and Otsego Counties have BOA planning efforts underway in the Village of Herkimer ($200,00 grant), Town of Fort Plain and Nelliston ($110,00 grant) and recently awarded City of Oneonta ($297,000 grant) to identify prime redevelopment sites. These communities have joined a remarkable order of seven other Mohawk Valley communities already taking proactive steps across ten BOAs in the region, a significant DOS investment. Real estate developers are invited to advance the planning from underutilized sites to modern housing, thriving business or recreational skate parks and the like.
- State and Federal Funding Progress: The Mohawk Valley region leveraged significant resources from DOS which led to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding brownfield remediation and redevelopment efforts. Over $1.6 million in pre-development funding has already been invested in Oneida County alone. MVEDD has more than $500,000 EPA revolving-loan commitments in the queue with another $1.5 million application pending by Montgomery County-led Coalition.
- Brownfield Site Investigations and Risk Mitigation: Sites like Skip’s Garage and Tradition Leather in Fulton County have already been assessed for environmental risks. Consulting teams, including HRP Associates and LaBella Associates, are working to develop remedies across the region that will allow for safe redevelopment in accordance with community desires.
- Newport School Case Study: A case study of the Newport School, Herkimer County redevelopment project will be presented on Day Two of the Summit. This redevelopment initiative is a prime example of how $454,300 EPA Assessment funding is put to work. Watch the project’s promo video here: Newport School Promo Video.
- Site Tours: Summit attendees will have the opportunity to register for site tours, which will be scheduled on Day Two of the summit or at a later date. These tours will be hosted by economic development community experts with first-hand knowledge of ongoing brownfield redevelopment efforts in the area.
The Summit will provide networking opportunities with key regional leaders involved in 22 brownfield redevelopment projects, including:
- Ron Peters, Center for Regional Growth Fulton County
- Sites: Fashion Tanning Site Profile Coming Soon!, Johnstown
- Jenn Donovan, City of Gloversville, Fulton County
- Sites: Tradition, Daniel Hays, Risedorf, Harrison and Comrie Inc.
- John Piseck, Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency
- Sites: Newport, Masonic Building, LW Bills in Herkimer;
- Union Tools, Frankfort; Remington Arms, Ilion
- Charlestown Herkimer/Oneida Collaboration
- Brittany Davis, Naturally Lewis
- Sites: McAlpine Elementary and Center Street in Lyons Falls
- Daniel Gray, City of Amsterdam, Montgomery County
- Sites: DeGraff, Lyon Street, Five Corners and Erie Terrace
- Marc Baracco, MVEDGE, Oneida County
- Sites: Rome Cable and West Liberty in Rome
- Jody Zakrevsky, Otsego NOW, Otsego County
- Sites: Oneonta Rail Yard, Highway Garage in Cooperstown
- Julie Pacatte, Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corp, Schoharie County
- Site: The Adler, Sharon Springs
The next generation of brownfield leaders will be recognized, too. Scholarships will be awarded to students actively involved in environmental studies, brownfield remediation and redevelopment research.
State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill (SUNY Cobleskill), is offering technical assistance to communities exploring brownfield redevelopment opportunities. The university’s Director of Sustainability & Compliance, Karina Benninger, will be a panelist to share insights on how communities can address blighted sites that may be hindering local prosperity.
ICYMI: New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Brownfields Assistance Center, coordinated a special webinar, “From Vacant to Vibrant,” held on April 10, 2025, in cooperation with MVEDD. This session provided an overview of brownfield basics and how local communities can get involved in site redevelopment, featuring experts from the NYS Department of State.
The 4th Annual Brownfield Summit is open for registration. The Brownfield Developer Summit offers a unique opportunity for professionals, community leaders, and students to gain valuable insights from experts in brownfield redevelopment, explore funding options, and learn about successful case studies from across the region.
Event Details:
Dates: April 29-30, 2025
Location: Herkimer College, 100 Reservoir Road, Herkimer, NY
Contact:
To attend the event and express interest in site tours, please visit: https://mvedd.org/brownfield-event
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