Buckeye Hills Regional Council Honored with the 2026 Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations
Buckeye Hills Regional Council was recently recognized with a 2026 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for its 2022-2025 USEPA Brownfields Community-Wide Assessment Program.
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 that promote 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. NADO recognized these award-winning efforts at its 2026 Annual Training Conference in Reno, Nevada, in October. An interactive StoryMap features all selected projects, including summaries, images, and key partners. The map is available at https://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.”
“Receiving this recognition is a testament to the importance of investing in the future of our communities,” said Kate Dunn, Senior Planner at Buckeye Hills Regional Council. “Brownfield redevelopment takes vision, collaboration, and a commitment to turning challenges into opportunities. We’re proud to help communities across our region take the steps needed to transform underutilized properties into assets that support public health, economic development, and long-term community growth.”
The Impact Awards honor Aliceann Wohlbruck, NADO’s first executive director, a lifelong advocate for regional solutions and rural economic development.
