In this issue:
Federal Policy Update
SGA is hosting a reception and Smart Growth Awards Ceremony at New Partners for Smart Growth – February 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
The Environmental Protection Agency is hosting 5 nationwide workshops to find solutions to multiple causes of water pollution
Suggest your Great Place in America
Federal Policy Update
Partnership for Sustainable Communities – On Friday, HUD hosted a call with Secretary Shaun Donovan on the future of the Sustainable Communities Initiative, which was not funded in the current fiscal year. While Donovan was not able to elaborate on whether the program will be funded in the President’s budget request for FY2013, Donovan did say that “sustainability will be a big focus in 2013.” He also mentioned that the preferred sustainability status program (PSS) will be expanded in the current fiscal year, and would give potential grantees extra points when applying for other HUD grants, and Donovan said he is hoping that participation will expand in FY2012 to other HUD programs and to other agencies. For more information about how PSS will be expanded, click here.
Transportation Reauthorization – The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee is scheduled to markup up a transportation reauthorization bill on February 2nd. The Senate Banking and Finance Committees have indicated that they will mark up their portions of the transportation reauthorization bill in the next few weeks. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
NOFA – The FY 20102 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants NOFA was announced last week, and will make $110 million available for public housing authorities (PHAs), local governments, nonprofits, tribal entities and for-profit developers that apply jointly with a public entity. More information can be found here on HUD’s website.
Budget – The release of the President’s budget has been pushed to the week of February 13th.
SGA is hosting a reception and Smart Growth Awards Ceremony at New Partners for Smart Growth
Join Smart Growth America in celebrating great examples of smart growth development policies at the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference in San Diego on February 3rd at 7:00 p.m. For more information on the reception, check the members-only calendar on our website (password = smartgrowth).
EPA hosting 5 nationwide workshops on stormwater and wastewater plans
EPA is developing a draft framework document that will more fully describe an integrated planning concept and will help EPA work with State and local governments towards providing integrated solutions to multiple causes of water pollution. EPA will be holding five workshops to solicit the individual views of stakeholders on the draft framework document and the use of integrated municipal and wastewater plans to meet the water quality objectives of the CWA.
The workshops will be held in EPA Regional offices on the following dates:
January 31, 2012; 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at EPA Region 4 Office, 61 Forsyth Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
February 6, 2012; 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at EPA Region 2 Office, 290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007-1866
February 13, 2012, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at EPA Region 10 Office, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
February 15, 2012, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at EPA Region 7 Office, 901 N. 5th Street, Kansas City, KS 66101 (Registration is closed for this location)
February 17, 2012, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at EPA Region 5 Office, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604-3507
Click here for more information.
Suggest your Great Place in America
APA needs your help in suggesting places that are great and merit a Great Place designation. We want you to suggest your favorite streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces across America, whether they are in your own city or town, in a place you’ve visited, or in a place you otherwise know about.
Places selected for designation as a Great Neighborhood, Great Street, or Great Public Space are recognized by APA during National Community Planning Month in October.
Applications are due February 23rd. Click here for more information and to access applications.