Buckeye Hills Regional Council (BHRC) has been recognized with a 2026 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for its Regional Brownfields Assessment Program, an initiative that has helped communities throughout southeastern Ohio transform underutilized and environmentally challenged properties into opportunities for future investment and redevelopment.
Through funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), BHRC led a comprehensive regional effort to assess and advance redevelopment of brownfield properties across its eight-county service area. As the grant recipient and program manager, BHRC coordinated with local governments, stakeholders, and property owners to identify priority sites, oversee environmental assessments, and develop plans that prepare properties for productive reuse.
The initiative resulted in the successful assessment of 14 brownfield sites, including Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, hazardous materials surveys, and cleanup planning. These efforts positioned formerly underutilized properties for redevelopment while reducing environmental risks and creating opportunities for economic growth.
BHRC also leveraged more than $3.5 million in additional funding to support environmental remediation and redevelopment projects, demonstrating the lasting impact of strategic planning and regional collaboration.
Presented annually, the NADO Impact Awards honor regional development organizations and their partners for strengthening communities, building regional resilience, and enhancing local economies through creative approaches to economic and community development. NADO is a Washington, D.C.-based membership association of regional development organizations that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies.
This year’s cohort included 94 impactful projects led by 58 organizations across 20 states. These award-winning efforts will be recognized during NADO’s 2026 Annual Training Conference in Reno, Nevada. All selected projects are featured in an interactive StoryMap showcasing project summaries, images, and key partners. The map is available at www.nado.org/2026-impact-award-recipients/.
“Each year, the Impact Awards celebrate the remarkable work being done by regional development organizations to strengthen communities and improve quality of life,” said 2025-2026 NADO President Matthew Dolge, Executive Director of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council in North Carolina. “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.”
“Brownfield redevelopment is about much more than cleaning up properties. It’s about creating new possibilities for our communities,” said Kate Dunn, Senior Planner at Buckeye Hills Regional Council. “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 Impact Awards are presented in memory of Aliceann Wohlbruck, NADO’s first executive director, who was a lifelong advocate for regional solutions and rural economic development.