Buckeye Hills Council Wins National Impact Award
The regional development organization was honored for its work on a federal brownfields assessment program at a national conference.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Philanthropy
Buckeye Hills Regional Council received a 2026 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations for its role in the 2022-2025 USEPA Brownfields Community-Wide Assessment Program. NADO recognized the efforts during its 2026 Annual Training Conference in October in Reno, Nevada.
Why it matters
The NADO Impact Awards honor regional development organizations for strengthening communities, building regional resilience and enhancing local economies. The recognition highlights regional work on brownfields, which are underused properties that can be complicated to redevelop.
This year's award cohort included 94 projects led by 58 organizations across 20 states. The source does not specify the funding or measurable redevelopment outcomes of the Buckeye Hills projects.
The players
Buckeye Hills Regional Council
A regional development organization based in Marietta, Ohio, that works on planning and economic development across its member communities.
National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)
A national association representing regional development organizations across the United States, which presents the annual Impact Awards.
Matthew Dolge
The 2025-2026 NADO president and executive director of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council in North Carolina.
The details
All selected projects are featured in an interactive StoryMap showcasing summaries, images and key partners. Kate Dunn, senior planner at Buckeye Hills Regional Council, is among those associated with the recognized work.
Timeline
The USEPA Brownfields Community-Wide Assessment Program ran from 2022 to 2025.
NADO presented the awards during its 2026 Annual Training Conference in October in Reno, Nevada.
Market Landscape
The award recognizes regional participation in the USEPA Brownfields Community-Wide Assessment Program, a federal effort to assess contaminated properties for redevelopment. It reflects how regional planning organizations take on federally funded community revitalization work across many states.
Residents of the Buckeye Hills region may see brownfield sites in their communities assessed for redevelopment through federally supported regional planning. The recognition does not itself change any local prices, services or tax obligations.
The takeaway
Regional planning organizations often carry out federally funded projects that turn underused properties into community assets. Following local development councils can show how these efforts take shape in your area.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Philanthropy in Ohio.
