When initiating community engagement, whether it is for an assessment grant, an area wide planning grant, etc., there are import aspects to remember. 

1.) You need to build trust

• Market yourself as a resource, not a regulator
• Never make the community come to you, always go to them whether that be meeting them at the site, getting coffee, or in their own living rooms
• Remind them that you are in their corner
• Listen to them
• Reinstate that the goal is to bring the property back into productive use

2.) Educate

• What a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment entails
  • Mainly looking at site history, previous uses, etc. 
  • Can give you more information than what the property owner maybe be able or willing to provide
  • No sampling or testing until a Phase II
• Remind them that if they are wanting to pass it down to future generations, they should pass it down as an asset, not a liability
• If they are wanting to sell it to a developer, suggest they should have a Phase I (and Phase II if applicable) ready for the developer

Do you have more suggestions or ideas for the forum on initiating community engagement?