Brownfield Spotter Patch Program for Girl Scouts
wins Second Place at Future of the Region Awards

On, March 30, the 15^th Annual Future of the Region Awards, hosted by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, honored Pinellas County Economic Development’s Brownfield Spotter Patch Program for Girl Scouts.  The program won second place in the Public Education category.  Teri Hasbrouck, Brownfield Program Manager at Pinellas County Economic Development was key to refining, launching and promoting the Spotter Patch Program in Pinellas.

Brownfield sites are abandoned, idled or underused industrial and commercial properties where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by actual or perceived environmental contamination.  These sites can include; vehicle or boat maintenance facilities; gas stations; dry cleaners; former commercial facilities; and landfills.

In a collaborative effort between the Pinellas County Brownfield Program and the Girl Scouts of Suncoast Council, the Brownfield Spotter Patch Program teaches girl scouts all about Brownfields, so that they can identify potential Brownfield properties in their communities.  The patch program consists of educational activities that help girls discover, lead and take action, according to their age-level and developmental characteristics.  Activities at the youngest level include teaching and discussing both existing Brownfields and alternative uses.   Activities for the older girls include learning how to use a web-based GIS tool and attending a Brownfield designation public hearing.

To learn more about the Brownfield Program and Land Recycling efforts in Pinellas County, click here (http://www.pced.org/stats_forms/category.asp?id=12798).

For more information about Pinellas County Economic Development, please contact Stacey Swank at Pinellas County Economic Development, (727) 464-7425, sswank@pinellascounty.org, or visit www.pced.org.

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