Community Impacts

Health Impacts

Enhancing Community Health Visual

Brownfield sites can have largely negative impacts on peoples' health. Revitalizing these sites can provide both economic and environmental gains for communities. Below are research reports that provide evidence on how brownfield redevelopment can improve community health.

In 2017, the County partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Zilber School of Public Health and a Masters of Public Health Candidate who provided a report on the health impact of Brownfields making a case for reclaiming brownfield sites. View the Health Impact Considerations PowerPoint below.

Health Impact Considerations

Published in August 2014, Nancy Frank summarizes the findings of numerous studies, as well as Wisconsin data, on the impact of public investment in brownfield redevelopment. The report states, "Investment of public funds in remediation and redevelopment of brownfields generates a range of public and private benefits, including increased property values, increased tax revenues, jobs retained, new jobs created, environmental benefits, and social benefits." Click the link below to view the whole report.

Benefits of Public Investment in Brownfield Cleanup and Redevelopment

2015 Brownfields Study Group Report provides proposals to assist with even stronger economic growth in Wisconsin as it relates to Brownfield projects. Brownfields have the opportunity to be an excellent development strategy and can reinvent historic downtowns. View the report below.

Brownfields Study Group 2015 Report Investing in Wisconsin: Reducing Risk, Maximizing Return

Economic and Fiscal Impacts

In order to understand each project's economic and fiscal impact and return on investment (ROI) to the local community, Economic Development Washington County (EDWC) conducted Economic and Fiscal Impact Studies on seven projects and completed an additional two projects that model the potential impact of a machine tool and office development. The View the project summary with each of the target sites below. Economic Impact Visual