Vacant to Vibrant

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is proud to introduce Vacant-to-Vibrant (V2V), a new program designed to transform abandoned, vacant, and historically contaminated industrial properties into thriving community assets. Over the next three years, this pilot initiative will provide direct support to select member cities across our region, helping them breathe new life into underutilized urban spaces. By focusing on critical areas such as waterfront revitalization, sustainable energy development, and transit-oriented neighborhood growth, V2V aims to turn local environmental liabilities into engines for community rejuvenation, recreation, and job creation. To ensure our communities can successfully navigate the process of brownfield redevelopment, the Cities Initiative has established a consortium of technical service providers to deliver expert technical services. Through these strategic partnerships, local municipalities, especially under-resourced towns, will receive hands-on assistance to identify priority sites, engage local residents, and craft winning applications for federal, state, and private funding. Ultimately, V2V is about reclaiming our shared Great Lakes shorelines and neighborhoods, making them healthier, more economically resilient, and vibrant places for families to live, work, and play.