The Phoenix Awards were created in 1997 to honor the groups that develop significant brownfields sites across the country. They seek to recognize innovative yet practical remediation projects, which bring blighted, old commercial and industrial sites back to productive use.

	The Phoenix Awards

While these projects serve as models for other communities, the awards also provide a forum to showcase and publicize successful solutions to a nationwide concern.

These Phoenix Award winners are real-life examples of the accomplishments that can arise out of the new brownfields initiatives across this country. These projects represent a blend of disciplines, including the environmental consulting community, the public, real estate developers, bankers, economic development agencies, attorneys, plus federal, state and local government. These groups have figured it out - and they are national models for each one of us.

Although just six years old, the Phoenix Awards attracts applications from every region across the country including states such as California, Kansas, Virginia, New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Ohio, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, New York, Oregon, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Vermont, West Virginia, South Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Across the nation, we are experiencing an Urban Renaissance - as we move from the heavy manufacturing that once created many of our cities - to revitalizing our urban corridors with multiuse sites that include commercial/retail space, internodal systems, residential housing and the proverbial daycare center, stadiums, technology integrated with greenspace, Riverwalks and recreational opportunities.

Our urban communities have moved from steel-making to deal-making - with technology and quality-of-life applications leading the way. Over and over, it is clear that the existing urban infrastructures make these sites one of the solutions to the urban sprawl issues the are facing us all in the 21st Century. The government leaders, developers and other groups that capitalized on the benefits of existing infrastructure should be applauded for their efforts.

We know we are not going to get change in the next decade like we got in the 1970s which is by rolling out the lawyers, passing a law, setting some standards, and getting a bunch of cops running around looking for people who will not meet the standards. This approach just won't work in the next decade.

Instead, we need to empower states and local government to find incentives to foster cooperation for redevelopment - simply, we have to reduce the barriers.

Youghiogheny Glass

The crystal trophies that we present represent "transformation" - with the flames that are captured within the crystal structures. Youghiogheny Glass Company created each crystal trophy especially for each of our Award Winners. The special designs were handcrafted by a Steuben Glass trained artisan, and are signed by the artist. This Pennsylvania glass company, known for its fine workmanship, designed the Inaugural Bowls for the first Clinton inauguration.