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Lincoln’s Economic Development Administrator to Speak at National Brownfields Conference



Lincoln, ME (August 11, 2025) – The Town of Lincoln is pleased to announce that Ruth Birtz, the Town’s Economic Development Administrator and Assessor, was a featured speaker at the Brownfields 2025 National Training Conference, taking place August 5–8, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois.


Ms. Birtz participated in “The Little Engines That Could: Big Wins for Small Rural Communities in Brownfields Redevelopment”, part of the conference’s Brownfields University track dedicated to advanced technical and policy education. Her session will address strategies for leveraging brownfields redevelopment to stimulate local economic growth, capitalizing on Lincoln’s successful community-

driven revitalization initiatives.


“As Economic Development Administrator, I am honored to represent Lincoln at this national forum,” said Birtz. "Lincoln views brownfields remediation not only as an environmental responsibility, but also as a key driver of sustainable redevelopment and long-term economic growth."


As of December 31, 2024, The Town of Lincoln has received $17,484,250.00 in grants and $1,271,250.00 in loans with terms starting when the mill site starts to turn a profit, or interest only.


The Lincoln Technology Park is the future home of industry leading entities, Biofine Developments Northeast, owner of the exclusive rights to a robust patent portfolio enabling the production of 100% renewable chemicals, carbon-negative biofuels, and biochar directly from waste lignocellulosic feedstocks, Form Energy, an American company driving innovation in energy manufacturing and technology, and Revision Energy, a community solar project.


Session Details

• Event: Brownfields University, part of Brownfields 2025

• Presenter: Ruth Birtz, Economic Development Administrator & Assessor, Town of Lincoln, Maine

• Topic: Community-based approaches to brownfields revitalization and reuse


About Ruth Birtz

Ruth Birtz serves in dual roles for the Town of Lincoln as Economic Development Administrator and Town Assessor. Her leadership in municipal planning and assessment has earned statewide recognition, including being named 2024 Assessor of the Year by the Maine Association of Assessing Officers. She was also featured in the April 2025 Maine Town & Country magazine for her commitment to fostering local growth and sustainability


About Brownfields 2025 Conference

The National Brownfields Training Conference is the largest convening of stakeholders—municipal

leaders, environmental professionals, developers, and policymakers—focused on environmental cleanup and community revitalization. Held biennially, the 2025 conference is expected to host over 2,000 attendees, offering more than 180 educational sessions and numerous networking opportunities


About the Session

The Little Engines That Could: Big Wins for Small Rural Communities in Brownfields Redevelopment August 07, 2025

2:00pm to 3:00pm Room E352

From the Pacific Coast of Oregon to the Atlantic shores of Maine, two small but determined communities—Chiloquin, OR, and Lincoln, ME—are proving that transformative brownfields

redevelopment knows no boundaries. This session will explore how two rural cities, despite their modest populations, leveraged U.S. EPA brownfields grants to overcome environmental challenges, conduct

impactful assessments, and unlock economic and community revitalization.


Attendees will discover how these rural cities secured crucial funding, built collaborative partnerships, and inspired local action to achieve big results. Through an interactive and lively discussion, Chiloquin and Lincoln, along with its seasoned moderator, will demonstrate that even the smallest communities can make a big difference, providing a roadmap and actionable insights for other rural communities to tackle environmental and economic challenges with confidence.


About Lincoln

Lincoln is a double township measuring 75 square miles and is home to 13 lakes and the Penobscot River. Lincoln is committed to sustainable, community-led development. The Town’s Office of Economic


Development works collaboratively to support infrastructure improvements, environmental stewardship, and strategic redevelopment to enhance local quality of life and economic viability.

For more information about Ruth Birtz’s participation or the Town of Lincoln’s initiatives, please contact Mrs. Birtz at 207-794-3372 or ruth.birtz@lincolnmaine.org

 
 
 

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