Saturday, September 21, 2013

EPA and Appalachian Regional Commission Invite Applications for Technical Support/Implementation Assistance

Appalachian communities interested in revitalizing their downtowns, promoting local food systems, and using other smart growth approaches to improve human health and the environment are invited to apply for technical support and implementation assistance through the Sustainable Communities in Appalachia partnership. The partnership is a program of EPA and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). EPA and ARC have committed up to $200,000 for technical assistance and implementation in four Appalachian communities. Funds will be used to develop action plans and provide small cash grants for first-step implementation efforts. Learn more on the ARC website.

How to Apply
Interested communities in the ARC-defined Appalachia region should submit a letter of interest, no more than two pages, describing the needs and goals of the community as they pertain to the description above.

The selection process will take into account:

    · Community interest in food systems, including the production and distribution of healthful local food as a means of boosting economic competitiveness and economic diversification;· The potential to address the community’s development challenges through the strategies described in the Partnership for Sustainable Communities 2011 publication Supporting Sustainable Rural Communities;
    · Support from community leaders and community members;
    · Interest by the Local Development District or a local university or community college in playing an active role in the technical assistance and potentially replicating such efforts in other communities;
    · Potential for the community to receive public or private investments to implement strategies identified through the technical assistance program; and
    · The extent of social and economic needs of the Appalachian community as measured by per-capita market income, poverty rate, and unemployment rate.

Submit letters of interest to Wilson Paine at wpaine@arc.gov by October 4, 2013. Letters of interest should indicate a primary point of contact and, if possible, other members of the community who will participate in the technical assistance process. Questions about this solicitation may be addressed to Wilson Paine at wpaine@arc.gov or Ed Fendley at Fendley.Ed@epa.gov.