1. The Methods and Art of Innovative Bureaucracy
John Thomas
EPA Office of Sustainable Communities

2. Understanding the Landscape of Change
Defined by Statutes
Requires an Act of Congress
Defined by Rules / Guidance
Requires a formal process to change
Defined by Practices
Requires culture change and new modes of operating
Ron Simms, Former HUD Deputy Secretary

3. BUREAUCRATS The Basic Rules 4 habits related to technical assistance
Don’t take no for an answer (at least initially)
Find creative solutions
Build coalitions
Work with the willing
BUREAUCRATS

4. Ways Federal Programs Help Communities
Grants
Planning, Implementation
Revolving Loans, Financial Assistance
Technical Assistance
Direct
Through intermediaries
Contractor supported assistance

5. Defining Technical Assistance
Compliance Assistance
Comprehensive Assistance
Planning
Design
Policy Evaluation
Stakeholder Engagement
Training

6. EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities
What is unique about our approach?
We provide communities with access critical expertise through cost effective programs with minimal application barriers
We use these engagements to develop tools that can, in turn, be used by others
Our programs and tools have attracted significant investment from other agencies
How we do our work:
Education and outreach
Developing tools and providing technical assistance
Working to modernize codes, standards and rules that guide development and infrastructure design
Federal partnerships
Supporting the work of other EPA programs

7. Tools and Technical Assistance
Technical Assistance to state and local governments
Multiple approaches:
Smart Growth Implementation Assistance Cutting edge issues
Governors Institute on Community Design State policy change
Greening Americas Capitals High visibility demonstration projects
Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Tools to address common barriers
Joint Technical Assistance with other agencies (FEMA, USDA, ARC, SC2, GSA) Leveraging and changing practices
Helping the Willing
What we want to do, if possible, is to begin to tip the scale so sustainable community development becomes commonplace in this country, not the exception.
We think one way of doing that is to reach more communities that are trying to do this style of development but often need technical assistance to get started.
To that end, we are devoting about half of our FY11 budget to various kinds of TA.
Cutting edge issues – SGIA (example, California, Louisville, Montgomery County)
State policy change – GICD (NJ may be next)
High visibility demonstration projects – Greening America’s Capitals
Tools to address common barriers – what we are calling a “Building Blocks” TA program that might help communities with code audits, parking audits, visioning exercises, walking audits, etc.
With our TA, we are trying to reach communities at their level and meet their needs.
Communities are increasingly putting green building or other sustainability requirements in their local ordinances, codes, etc.

8. Technical Assistance Approach
Understand context
Refine the problem statement
Customize agenda and materials
Assemble relevant case studies
Coach community on stakeholder participation
Assess
Conduct community tour
Affirm vision
Assess assets, challenges
Brainstorm what needs to happen to realize the vision
Set specific goals/objectives
Establish manageable short term and long term action steps to meet objectives
Convene
Write action plan
Follow up calls
Mobilize resources
Align funding
Implement

9. Greening America’s Communities – Little Rock, AR

10. Sustainable Resilience –
Iowa City, IA

11. Riverfront Crossings – Iowa City

12. Riverfront Crossings – Iowa City