Community-Led Brownfield Redevelopment

25+ YEARS OF

Community-Led Brownfield Redevelopment in the Midwest

Communities throughout the Midwest are grappling with the redevelopment and reuse of brownfields—vacant, polluted parcels of land—ranging from former industry to underused or high-vacancy commercial districts to public properties that previously served as community centers. Delta Institute has experience reimaging what these assets could look like for generations to come—turning a liability into a treasure.

Community members strategize on brownfield redevelopment

Flipboard with stickers at brownfield community planning session

Streamlined,

Effective

Brownfield Planning

Our clients typically tell us that they don’t know where to start. Delta Institute’s extensive understanding of community needs allows us to create demonstrable, effective, actionable plans in a matter of months, rather than years. As of 2026, Delta Institute has worked with more than 120 communities in over eight states to provide technical assistance on brownfield redevelopment—developing proven methods to fit your plans.

Delta uses community engagement and facilitation techniques developed from on-the-ground work to lend capacity and strategic support for brownfield re-use. We partner with municipalities, environmental consultants, community groups, and state environmental authorities to gather data, analyze plans, and position members of the local community to inform collaborative and transparent decision making.

Funding Analysis and Next Steps

We understand municipal needs and realities

Delta Institute prides ourselves on being trusted, reliable, and effective partners to municipal agencies and community groups. We understand municipal realities, ranging from staff resources, budget processes, Council approvals, Open Meetings Act requirements, and planning cycles. As a 501c3 nonprofit, our mission is rooted within your success—as dictated by our strategic goals and governing Board of Directors. Simply put, we exist to support Midwestern communities.

We're focused on the mission, not on profits

Our pricing is based upon the actual cost for our organizational staff to create your plans—we don’t have shareholders or a profit margin in our work. So you can rest easy knowing that the price is exactly what it should be, without inflated costs or unnecessary perks that so many other planning agencies add into their fees.

Everything is tailored to your community

Delta Institute rejects the “copy and paste” approach to community redevelopment that is unfortunately prevalent in the technical assistance sector. We dig into local context, history, and community voice to genuinely hear what pain points and visions are, so that we then collaboratively craft an authentic plan that is 1) Community-Led, 2) Actionable, and 3) Grounded in Shared Values for your community’s future.

Delta and KSU TAB helped Osage City recognize our downtown’s potential and pave the way for a brighter future. We are excited to apply these findings as we begin our efforts to revitalize our downtown and bring renewed energy to our community.

— Katie Hodge, City Manager, Osage City

FEATURED BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Little Village, Chicago neighborhood archway

Brownfield Mapping and Community Engagement

Brownfield Mapping and Reuse Analysis in Little Village

Delta Institute and the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) collaborated on a comprehensive project that scored brownfield sites throughout the Little Village neighborhood on Chicago’s Southeast Side to produce site marketability scores and summaries. This scoring and summarizing was used to create a holistic map of more than 200+ available properties for redevelopment, while centering community goals, vision, and voice.

Brownfield Mapping and Reuse in Little Village Report

Historic District Revitalization Analysis, Assessment, and Future Steps

Osage City, Kansas Downtown Reuse Analysis and Recommendations

In partnership with Kansas State University Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB), Delta worked with Osage City, Kansas, who is exploring reuse opportunities in its historic downtown core. The Downtown Reuse Analysis and Recommendations Report combines and assesses demographic and market data, community input, infrastructure conditions, and existing city and county plans to identify where market demand, infrastructure capacity, and community priorities align, providing guidance for incremental, achievable reuse strategies that reduce risk and maximize impact.

Downtown Reuse Analysis and Recommendations Report

coal economy transition and plant redevelopment

Shenango Guiding Principles for Redevelopment

Delta Institute facilitated a coalition of regional economic development agencies, community groups, grassroots advocates, and public officials in Allegheny County, PA to create recommendations for community-based site redevelopment at the closed Shenango Coke Plant on the Ohio River.

Guiding Principles and Visioning Report

Site Analysis and Re-Use Visioning

La Crosse Industrial Reuse Analysis

In partnership with Kansas State University Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB), Delta worked with La Crosse to analyze industrial reuse opportunities throughout the city utilizing brownfield redevelopment processes, funding, and policy recommendations. Analysis included comparing land currently being used for industrial, vs. land planned for future industrial use, a review of existing documents and ordinances, and policy recommendations. Our scope resulted in the City Council undertaking multi-year planning focused on land reuse possibilities.

deconstruction planning and implementation

St. Louis Deconstruction Pilot

The City of St. Louis and US EPA Region 7 hired Delta Institute to develop a market assessment for local deconstruction opportunities while addressing blight and abandoned properties. This resulted in Delta Institute revising the City’s demolition handbook, training contractors around building material reuse, and developing the City’s first public deconstruction pilot.

Learn more

WHY CHOOSE DELTA INSTITUTE?

INNOVATION

Named the winner of Illinois Green’s Emerald Award for Green Innovation in 2018.

NONPROFIT

Partnering with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit means we prioritize mission over profits. We are fully registered to do business like any other firm.

COLLABORATION

Named a finalist for the inaugural Chicago Prize in 2020 in partnership with LVEJO.

TRANSPARENCY

Winner of Candid’s Platinum Seal of Transparency for 6 years — a recognition received by fewer than 1% of all nonprofits.

EXCELLENCE

Received Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in both 2023 and 2024.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Received Charity Navigator’s highest four-star “Give with Confidence” rating annually.

REGIONAL

Named 1 of 29 Environmental Finance Centers supporting the EPA’s commitment to water access for all.

TRUSTED PARTNER

Hired by the Office of the Mayor to develop the Chicago Waste Strategy, which is still being implemented today.

We’d love to hear from you!

If you’re thinking about redeveloping a brownfield or coal plant in your county or community, we’d love to schedule a call. Please reach out to us to schedule a free consultation at either 312-554-0900 ext. 31 or send us an email.

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Community-Led Brownfield Redevelopment