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MARIETTA -- Buckeye Hills Regional Council has received a 2026 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations for its Regional Brownfields Assessment Program, according to a council release.
With funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Buckeye Hills managed an assessment program covering its eight-county service area in southeastern Ohio. The council coordinated with local governments, property owners and other stakeholders to identify sites and oversee environmental assessments and planning.
The program assessed 14 brownfield sites, the release said. The work included Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments, hazardous-material surveys and cleanup planning.
Buckeye Hills also secured more than $3.5 million in additional funding for environmental remediation and redevelopment projects, according to the release.
"Brownfield redevelopment is about much more than cleaning up properties. It's about creating new possibilities for our communities," Kate Dunn, senior planner at Buckeye Hills, said in the release. "By helping local governments understand environmental conditions and prepare sites for investment, we're removing barriers to redevelopment, improving public health and safety, and laying the groundwork for future economic opportunity throughout our region."
The National Association of Development Organizations presents its Impact Awards annually to regional development organizations and their partners. This year, the association selected 94 projects submitted by 58 organizations in 20 states, the release said.
"Each year, the Impact Awards celebrate the remarkable work being done by regional development organizations to strengthen communities and improve quality of life," Association President Matthew Dolge said in the release. "This year's honorees demonstrate how strategic leadership, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to progress can create meaningful and lasting benefits across the country."
Dolge is executive director of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council in North Carolina.
The projects will be recognized during the association's 2026 Annual Training Conference in Reno, Nevada. The association is a Washington-based membership organization representing regional development organizations.
The awards are named for Aliceann Wohlbruck, the association's first executive director.