The Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) has been awarded a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address environmental justice issues arising from failing decentralized septic systems and their impact on vulnerable populations (low income, minority, elderly and the very young) in Lowndes County, Alabama.  CCLR is hereby requesting – in accordance with 40 CFR Part 30 as appropriate for a not-for- profit organization – Statements of Qualification (SOQ) from interested non-profit organizations, educational institutions, private firms and individual consultants to be a part of the CCLR team that will execute the EPA grant. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) shall be open August 3, 2016 through August 18, 2016.

USDA Rural Development’s Socially Disadvantaged Group Grants (SDGG) provides financial support for community groups to conduct leadership trainings, craft business plans or conduct strategic planning sessions. The program prioritizes projects that provide technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups through co-ops and cooperative development centers. Members of cooperative or a cooperative development center should contact their local rural development office with questions or apply. Application Deadline: August 5th (paper submission); August 1 (electronic submission)

On June 15th, the Center for Creative Land Recycling hosted its first workshop in Western New York! Our free, informative half-day workshop at the SUNY Buffalo campus focused on the latest trends in brownfield and infill redevelopment. Over 80 municipal planners, environmental professionals and consultants, local community organizers and developers all came together to share strategies for leveraging technology and the natural environment, as well as to form and build on collaborative relationships in the area.

The Land Policy Institute has released a robust and FREE guidebook: "Placemaking as an Economic Development Tool". The Placemaking Guidebook seeks to assist neighborhoods and communities with quickly reshaping their thinking and acting on how effective placemaking can greatly enhance community and economic development. The tool is a fantastic resource for communities of any size; and particularly valuable to states, regions and localities that are attempting to reshape their communities to be competitive again in the new global economy because of its emphasis on economic aspects of placemaking. The techniques and strategies discussed within can be used to drive improved "sense of place," enhance local quality of life, attract talented workers, and establish an environment for economic competitiveness. It can also assist in the redevelopment of vibrant places where people are drawn to live, work, play, shop, learn and visit. 

Tune in for a rich discussion among three leading-edge practitioners about how their programs promote wealth building, job placement and training, job creation, and increase access to financing and supports for small businesses and social enterprises. These programs respond to the needs of low-income people and people of color, and are making tangible impacts in everyday lives, helping long-marginalized families keep pace with place-based investments in their neighborhoods, and advancing equitable development more broadly in long-marginalized American communities.

Date & Time: July 20, 2016 | 1:30pm - 3:00pm EST

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is soliciting proposals for Coastal Ecosystem Resiliency Grants to implement projects to improve or restore coastal habitat to: 1) strengthen the resilience of U.S. marine and coastal ecosystems and decrease the vulnerability of communities to extreme weather and 2) support sustainable fisheries and contribute to the recovery of protected resources. Application Deadline: August 16.

EPA has announced the availability of funding to develop an area-wide plan for brownfields assessment, cleanup, and subsequent reuse. This funding is for research and/or technical assistance activities directed to one or more brownfield site(s) located in a specific area (such as a neighborhood, downtown or business district, local commercial corridor, community waterfront or city blocks). POWER+ communities may be interested in applying for an EPA Brownfields Area Wide Planning grant because a closed or closing coal-fired power plant or related legacy brownfield site(s) is likely to quickly become a large, blighted area with associated displacement of workers. Each project funded under this grant must result in an area-wide plan which includes specific plan implementation strategies for assessing, cleaning up, and reusing the brownfields site(s) as well as related brownfields and project area revitalization strategies. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 20 projects in total, funded at up to $200,000 each. Application Deadline: August 10, 2016

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development is currently soliciting applications for the FY2016 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants Program AND the Community Development Block Grants for Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages. Together these programs provide funding for housing, community facilities, economic development and neeighborhood revitalization.

Choice Neighborhoods Application Deadline: Jun 28, 2016

CDBG Application Deadline: Jun 14, 2016

Rome Wasn't built in a day, and neither was a successful ARC grant application. That is why we at CCLR believe the ONLY sure way to increase your chances of success is to START EARLY. Join us for this short and informative webinar designed to give you the tools you need to get ahead of the curve on this year's ARC grants and gain important insight into putting together a solid application. 

This grant program is awarded to support state and local government programs that identify, address, and improve community health in revitalizing Brownfield/Land Reuse sites. Projects must pay particular attention to identifying and addressing health issues prior to redevelopment and assessing changes in community health associated with revitalization. Competitive applications will include collaborations between community organizations that will strengthen the community's ability to consider public health issues in redevelopment.

Application Deadlines: Letter of Intent - 6/3/2016;  Full Application - 7/5/2016