The 15th Annual New Partners For Smart Growth Conference took place in Portland, OR from February 11th to February 13th and included panels, tours, workshops, networking opportunities and various learning activities for participants. CCLR’s Director of Programs, Ignacio Dayrit (below), moderated two panels for those looking for information and strategies to help initiate brownfield redevelopment in their own communities.

 Hear from EPA Region 9 (Pacific Southwest) staff, as well as EPA-funded grantees, on how they have utilized EPA’s Brownfield grants and learn about EPA’s upcoming grant solicitation for the Brownfields Area Wide Planning grant, which will be posted in Spring 2016. 

The HOPE VI Main Street Program provides grants to small communities to assist in the renovation of an historic or traditional central business district or “Main Street” area by replacing vacant, unused space in buildings with affordable housing units. Main Street grant funds can be used to build new affordable housing or reconfigure obsolete or surplus commercial space (or extremely substandard, vacant housing) into affordable housing units. 

Deadline: April 12, 2016

States, tribes, irrigation districts, water districts and other organizations with water or power delivery authority are invited to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on Drought Resiliency Projects that will increase the reliability of water supply; improve water management; implement systems to facilitate the voluntary sale, transfer, or exchange of water; and provide benefits for fish, wildlife, and the environment to mitigate impacts caused by drought. CLICK HERE for more on WaterSMART. 

Deadline: April 11, 2016

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Native Americans (ANA) has published several Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) for fiscal year 2016. These grants include opportunities for developing local tribal economies, resources for job creation and financial support to stregthen tribal goverment capacity to bolster environmental regulatory efforts.

Deadline: April 6, 2016

Federally recognized Indian tribes, Alaskan Native groups, and Native Hawaiian organizations are invited to submit grant applications to support historic preservation projects and promote the continuation of living cultural traditions. The application guidelines lists five major categories of eligible activities for Historic Preservation Fund grants: locating and identifying cultural resources, preserving a historic property listed on the National Register, preservation planning, oral history and documenting cultural traditions, and education and training projects in historic and cultural preservation. 

Deadline: March 31, 2016

Under the Environmental Education Grants Program, the U.S. EPA is accepting grant proposals to support environmental education projects that promote environmental awareness and stewardship and help provide people with the skills to take responsible actions to protect the environment. This grant program provides financial support for projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques. 

Deadline: April 8, 2016

Fundamentally, the ability to move safely and without fear through the built environment is an issue of equity.  Equity takes many forms, and this is one of them. Too many discussions about sexual violence blame women instead of asking why attackers believe they can commit these heinous acts with impunity. San Leandro is transforming itself and writing a new narrative for a new century with the development of the transit-oriented San Leandro Tech Campus (SLTC). The first phase of SLTC will open in October, and developer Westlake Urban, in collaboration with the City, is seeking to attract socially oriented companies that provide opportunities for all employees, especially groups who are severely underrepresented in the technology sector, like women. Nothing exemplifies the writing of this new narrative for a new century more than Marco Cochrane’s 55-foot tall statue, Truth is Beauty. Through his art, Marco hopes to inspire people to take action to end violence against women. Displayed in her final form at Burning Man in 2013, Truth is Beauty will be on display at the new San Leandro Tech Campus, challenging viewers with the inscribed question “What would the world be like if women were safe?”

Communities across the country are recognizing that access to high quality, affordable broadband is a critical element to their economic future. Whether it’s improving access to health care through telemedicine, enhancing education, facilitating the reduction of GHG emissions though telecommuting, or expanding small business opportunities, broadband has become a necessity. USDA Rural Utilities Service and the U.S. EPA Office of Sustainable Communities is inviting communities to apply for a new pilot program - "Cool & Connected".

 Application Deadline: February 24, 2016

Increasingly, developers are recognizing the value of revitalizing brownfields—properties that are abandoned or underutilized due to real or perceived environmental contamination. This workshop for bankers, developers and development agency officials will provide an introduction to brownfield redevelopment.