The federal partnership: seven years of sustainable/resilient communities

What is the partnership for sustainable communities all about? The Partnership for Sustainable Communities is about achieving one goal: expanding opportunity for American families. Secretary Julián Castro U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development The Partnership is helping us align our transportation investments with the goals of providing affordable housing and preserving the environment. Secretary Anthony Foxx U.S. Department of Transportation Communities know better than anyone else what they need. Through the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, we at the federal level are organizing ourselves to give communities tools to address economic and environmental challenges in the way that works best for them. Administrator Gina McCarthy U.S. Environmental Protection Agency When we talk about sustainable communities, we mean sustainable environmentally, socially, and economically. These are communities that protect their air, water, and land by building compactly, offering transportation choices, and using energy more efficiently. Balances economic and natural assets to meet the diverse needs of residents now and in the future Uses resources efficiently High quality of life attracts residents and businesses Using these resources wisely helps ensure that we can live in healthy, prosperous communities now and leave these places strong and secure for our children and grandchildren.

HUD-DOT-EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities Provide more transportation choices. Promote equitable, affordable housing. Enhance economic competitiveness. Partnership Livability Principles: 4. Support existing communities. 5. Coordinate policies and leverage investment. 6. Value communities and neighborhoods. The Federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities began with a set of Livability Principles.

Roles in the Partnership Federal Emergency Management Roles in the Partnership Department of Transportation TIGER Grants FTA Core Programs FTA Livability Grants Flex Funding FHWA Core Programs United We Ride State/Metro Planning Intermodal Connectivity Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grants Regional Planning Community Challenge Choice Neighborhoods Affordable Housing Programs U.S. Department of Agriculture In the beginning the partnership brought three federal partners together over time that partnership grew to include other federal partners such as USDA, FEMA and USEDA. Note: Use SBA involvement with Rifle as an example of having them at the table. U.S. Department of Commerce/ EDA Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields/Superfund Revitalization Smart Growth Technical Assistance Water Infrastructure Funds Energy Efficiency

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Transitioning from Planning into Implementation Through planning, communities have charted their course and are now in the implementation phase. Capacity and funding resources are a challenge. The Partnership convenes or participates with stakeholders on implementation. The Partnership provides assistance to align federal dollars, and access other resources, for greater results.

Regional PSC Focus Areas and Leveraging Disaster Recovery/Resiliency Planning Rural and Tribal Communities Capacity Economic Development/Community Development Health and Wellbeing

Sustainable Communities Brownfields/Superfund Revitalization How can EPA funds/programs be used to promote livability and sustainability in a community? Sustainable Communities Brownfields/Superfund Revitalization Transportation/AQ Sustainable Water Infrastructure Stormwater Management/GI Sustainable Materials Management Green Build Energy Efficiency/Energy Star Renewable Energy Healthy Homes Determine infrastructure demand from proposed development. • Estimate the capacity of existing infrastructure. • Determine whether new infrastructure is required for a proposed development project. • Estimate capital costs and operational costs needed for the new infrastructure. • Determine law enforcement, emergency service, library, and park and recreation needs. • Evaluate expected revenues from development and compares with cost and expenditures. • Identify thresholds in land use patterns that trigger the need for new, larger, or smaller infrastruc

Sustainable Communities Technical Assistance Economic Diversification/Downtown Development Strategies Building Blocks Tool: Infill Development for Distressed Cities: Helps local governments in distressed communities identify obstacles to development in their downtown core and strategies for overcoming those obstacles. The tool is based on Attracting Infill Development in Distressed Cities: 30 Strategies. Local Foods, Local Places – Helps communities develop and implement action plans that promote local foods and downtown revitalization. Areas served by the Appalachian Regional Commission, areas served by the Delta Regional Authority, federally designated Promise Zones, and USDA-designated StrikeForce counties are eligible to apply.

Sustainable Communities Technical Assistance Economic Diversification/Downtown Development Strategies Cool & Connected – Pilot program sponsored by EPA and the USDA Rural Utilities Service to help rural communities use broadband service to revitalize main streets and promote economic development. Framework for Creating a Smart Growth Economic Development Strategy: A Tool for Small Cities and Towns- Step-by-step guide to building a place-based economic development strategy, intended for small and mid-sized cities, particularly those that have limited population growth, areas of disinvestment, and/or a struggling economy. How Small Towns and Cities Can Use Local Assets to Rebuild Their Economies- Report examining case studies of small towns and cities that used their existing assets and distinctive resources to pursue economic development.

Brownfields Revitalization Brownfields Area Wide Planning Grant – multiple site planning Brownfield Assessment Grants - funding to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct planning and community involvement related to brownfields sites. Targeted Brownfields Assessments (TBA) –EPA has contractors that can provide direct assistance Brownfields Cleanup Grants - funding to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. (20% cost share) Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grants - provide funding for a grant recipient to capitalize a revolving loan fund and to provide subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. Stakeholders can use funding to strengthen the marketplace and leverage the resources needed to clean up and redevelop brownfields.

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT/GREEN INFRASTRUCTRE Green infrastructure is a cost-effective, resilient approach to managing wet weather impacts that provides many community benefits. While single-purpose gray stormwater infrastructure—conventional piped drainage and water treatment systems—is designed to move urban stormwater away from the built environment, green infrastructure reduces and treats stormwater at its source while delivering environmental, social, and economic benefits. 

RESILIENCY Sustainable Water Infrastructure FEMA/EPA Memorandum of Understanding

PIPELINES North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC) pending regulations “Interested Party” definition NDIC New Program – will they consolidate state authorities and compliance functions EPA supporting State in protection from “produced water spills”