by William P. Scott

The City of Neenah, Wisconsin has received the 2012 Economic Impact Award from Brownfield Renewal magazine for its highly successful Glatfelter Mill Redevelopment Project. Brownfield Renewal is the only journal dedicated to the remediation, redevelopment and reuse of brownfields. To read the full article, please click here.

When the P.H. Glatfelter Company closed its mill in downtown Neenah resulting in the loss of 220 jobs, it notified the City of its inability to sell the mill because of perceived environmental liability. The City was concerned that a vacant mill in its central business district would adversely affect the business climate and eliminate the benefits from its substantial recent investment in area upgrades.

The Brownfield lawyers at Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLP advised the City it had no alternative than to seize control of its destiny. The City hired GSH to devise the strategy for acquiring, cleaning up and redeveloping the Glatfelter Mill property and to obtain permits and grants to accomplish the redevelopment objectives. Together, the City of Neenah and GSH assembled and directed the team of talented experts from both the private and public sectors that transformed the mill and enhanced Neenah’s position as a thriving work and play community. The participation of and close working relationship with dedicated and talented individuals from the Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources and Commerce was essential to the project’s success.