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Charlotte Mitchell Duyshart

Associate Legislative Director, Environment, Energy & Land Use | Gulf States, Counties & Parishes Caucus

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Nearly two out of every three counties (64 percent) have an identified brownfield property. Cook County, Ill. alone has more than 600 properties, the most of any county with a brownfield site, with the median number of sites for brownfield counties reaching five properties. These sites are concentrated in rust-belt and other former industrial- heavy regions of the country. With more than 450,000 total estimated sites, brownfields impact every county to varying degrees.

Brownfield properties can come in many shapes and sizes. Often, they are thought of as large abandoned industrial complexes, but it is more common for brownfield sites to be smaller properties like former gas stations, dry cleaners or automotive repair garages. Brownfield sites can also be agricultural, residential, railroad sites, chemical manufacturing plants or public buildings.

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MAHA Commission releases federal strategy outlining next steps in childhood chronic disease prevention

On September 9, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s new Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, following the earlier MAHA Report published in May 2025. The strategy builds on the assessment’s findings regarding four key drivers of childhood chronic disease: poor diet, chemical exposure, lack of physical activity and chronic stress and overmedicalization.

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Modeled on the Civilian Conservation Corps, Erie County, N.Y.'s training and internship program aims to help fill vacant staff positions while offering the necessary training.

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EPA releases proposal to repeal 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment finding

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Federal agencies release NEPA guidance following White House Executive Order

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EPA announces up to $14 million for brownfields job training program

On July 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $14 million through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Brownfields Job Training Grants Program. This program helps communities impacted by brownfield sites—blighted, contaminated properties—build local workforces to support site cleanup and redevelopment.

Upcoming Events

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Webinar

New BRECC Toolkit: Coal Communities’ Pathways for Economic Diversification

Join the BRECC National Network to learn how coal counties are diversifying their economies through increasing housing supply, providing innovative workforce development opportunities and revitalizing downtowns. 

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Webinar

Powering the Future: EV Charging Solutions for Public Agencies through NACo PPP

Wednesday, October 8, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET

Discover how to plug into the future efficiently and affordably. Join us for an informative webinar introducing NACo Public Promise Procurement's newest national contract for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment and Services. Awarded to Lilypad EV by Lead Public Agency Broome County, New York, this contract offers streamlined access to cutting-edge EV infrastructure for counties and public agencies nationwide.

This webinar is brought to you by NACo EDGE, establishing people, purchasing, and performance cost-saving solutions that can be applied to counties nationwide. EDGE is owned by NACo, advised by county leaders and 100% focused on solutions for U.S. Counties. Learn more about NACo EDGE here.

For more information, visit the event page!