Bluegrass Area Development District
Aug 21, 2026
Funding will support environmental assessments, redevelopment planning and productive reuse of underutilized properties
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced June 24, 2026, that it has awarded a $1.5 million Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant to the Bluegrass Area Development District (BGADD). The funding will be used to address environmental uncertainties associated with legacy industrial sites and underutilized properties, transforming community challenges into opportunities for growth.
The grant will support Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments, cleanup planning and market studies at priority locations in Paris, Millersburg and Irvine, Kentucky. By identifying and addressing environmental barriers, the initiative aims to clear the path for future investment and productive land reuse.
Future redevelopment efforts will specifically target expanding senior and affordable housing, creating new economic development hubs, enhancing public green spaces and strengthening long-term community resilience.
“We are incredibly excited to receive this funding, which will help address public health risks and remove the environmental uncertainties that often hinder local redevelopment,” said David Duttlinger, executive director of BGADD. “By working closely with our regional partners, we can position these underutilized properties for productive reuse and long-term investment while helping us meet our board's priorities.”
The successful grant application was made possible through a robust coalition of local governments, community organizations and technical experts, including Tetra Tech, Community Ventures, the City of Paris and the Estill County Fiscal Court.
Tetra Tech, a leading provider of high-end consulting and engineering services, supported BGADD throughout the application process and will assist in implementing the grant’s scope of work.
“This award represents a significant investment in the future of communities across the region, creating new opportunities to identify, assess, and advance redevelopment of properties impacted by environmental concerns,” said Sherry Weedman, senior environmental health scientist/program manager at Tetra Tech. “Brownfields revitalization is about more than addressing environmental conditions — it is about unlocking economic opportunity, supporting community vision, and returning underutilized properties to productive use. Through this coalition grant, we look forward to continuing to serve communities already engaged in brownfields redevelopment while also expanding assistance to communities that have never before had access to brownfields resources. We are grateful for BGADD’s leadership and for the continued partnership with local communities and the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection.”
The project will officially kick off in the coming months, with BGADD and its partners collaborating alongside local leadership to engage the community and identify key priority sites.