9th Annual Georgia Environmental| Conference - August 20-22, 2014

Save the Date: August 20-22, 2014
Jekyll Island Convention Center
Jekyll Island, Georgia
http://www.GeorgiaENet.com

You are invited to register as a valued 9th Annual Georgia Environmental Conference  Sponsor  and/or Exhibitor by visiting the conference website at http://www.GeorgiaENet.com.  Check out the new Sponsor opportunities and don't miss your  opportunity  to be featured in the upcoming printed and electronic conference  brochures,  distributed to more than 10,000 of your favorite| environmental colleagues.

In 2014, the Annual Georgia Environmental Conference returns to the LEED certified  Jekyll  Island Convention  Center and offers you an enhanced experience.  Based on your feedback and requests, this year's conference features an improved exhibit hall experience with discounted Government, University,  and Non-Profit booths, a new and improved program schedule with  more  exhibit hall time, more information-packed breakout sessions and  more  enhanced  General Sessions. As an added benefit, each exhibit booth   now   includes  two  full  conference  registrations.  For  more information  on  the  developing  agenda, contact our 65-member Steering Committee.  

For more information, go to http://www.GeorgiaENet.com

FY14 #Brownfield Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants Guidelines

FY14 Brownfield Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants Guidelines
RFP# EPA-OSWER-OBLR-14-2 - Closing Date: April 18, 2014

This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals from eligible entities, including nonprofit organizations, to conduct research, or provide technical assistance to communities facing Brownfield cleanup and revitalization challenges. Focus areas of this announcement include: 1) technical assistance to environmental workforce development and job training grantees, 2) technical assistance on the integration of environmental justice and equitable development for brownfield-impacted communities, 3) research on the benefits of Brownfield redevelopment, and 4) technical assistance on Brownfield financing and economic development strategies to brownfield-impacted communities. FY14 Brownfield Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grants Guidelines(28 pp, 675K  About PDF)

EPA's 2012 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement: Destination Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA

Smart Growth and Economic Success: Investing in Infill Development

Changing demographics and preferences, along with changes in where business choose to locate, are two trends that are creating new market opportunities for infill development. However, infill development can present barriers that discourage developers. Our new report, Smart Growth and Economic Success: Investing in Infill Development, discusses how these barriers are often surmountable and are beginning to diminish as infill development becomes more common. Lower infrastructure costs, combined with higher rent and sales prices, can help make infill projects profitable for developers, and also support neighborhoods that are better for the environment and improve quality of life.

Smart Growth and Economic Success: Investing in Infill Development is the third report in our Smart Growth and Economic Success series:

• Smart Growth and Economic Success: Benefits for Real Estate Developers, Investors, Businesses, and Local Governments, the first report, outlines the benefits of smart growth development for developers, businesses, local government, and other groups. 
• Smart Growth and Economic Success: The Business Case, the second report, discusses how locations with housing and transportation options, a mix of uses close together, and a high quality of life can improve environmental outcomes while providing economic advantages for businesses.

A fourth report on strategies for local governments is in production.

Read all three reports.

EPA's 2012 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement: The Mariposa District, Denver, CO

National Complete Streets Coalition to unveil top Complete Streets policies of 2013

More than 80 communities passed Complete Streets policies in 2013, and on February 18, Smart Growth America’s National Complete Streets Coalition will unveil which ones were the best.
Each year, the Coalition analyzes Complete Streets policies enacted in the past year. These laws, resolutions, executive orders, policies and planning and design documents encourage and provide safe access to destinations for everyone, regardless of age, ability, income, ethnicity or how they travel.

Join Smart Growth America for an online event to celebrate this year’s best policies and to hear how communities everywhere can create streets that are safer and more convenient for everyone who uses them.

WHAT:	Celebrate the top Complete Streets policies of 2013
WHEN:	Tuesday, February 18, 2014, 12:00 PM-1:00 PM EST
WHO:	Officials from communities with the highest-scoring policies as well as Complete Streets policy experts and coalition staff

Complete Streets policies—including laws, resolutions, executive orders, policies and planning and design documents—encourage and provide safe access to destinations for everyone, regardless of age, ability, income, ethnicity or how they travel. The Coalition evaluates policies based on 10 policy elements, including the policy’s vision, the project types included and next steps for implementation, among others. The 2012 rankings recognized Indianapolis, IN, as the top scoring policy in the nation that year.

EPA Recognizes Seven Communities for Smart Growth Achievement!

EPA today announced projects in seven communities as winners of the 2013 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement. The award honors creative, sustainable initiatives that better protect the health and the environment while strengthening local economies. Specific initiatives include cleaning up and reusing brownfields; using green infrastructure to manage stormwater runoff and improve water quality; providing transportation options; and providing green, energy-efficient housing in low-income areas.

The 2013 winners are:

• Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail and Historic Fourth Ward Park, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., Atlanta, Ga. – Overall Excellence
  The redevelopment of a formerly contaminated rail corridor into a multi-use trail and connected park system is sparking economic development, community engagement, and new affordable housing options in 45 city neighborhoods. Watch the video.
  
• Historic Millwork District and Washington Neighborhood, Dubuque, Iowa – Corridor or Neighborhood Revitalization
  The conversion of a mostly vacant former mill district into a lively mixed-use neighborhood reconnected the area to downtown and the adjacent residential neighborhood. Watch the video.
  
• GO TO 2040, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Metropolitan Chicago, Ill. – Policies, Programs, and Plans
  This seven-county regional plan for growth and economic development engages a wide variety of partners and links local planning efforts to a broad regional vision through tools and technical assistance. Watch the video.Lower Eastside Action Plan, Detroit City Planning Commission, Detroit, Mich. – Policies, Programs, and Plans (Honorable Mention)
  This grassroots effort formed a plan for revitalization that engaged residents in creating a vision for a low-income, high-vacancy neighborhood and influenced citywide planning.
• La Valentina, Sacramento, Calif. – Built Projects
  An energy-efficient, mixed-income, mixed-use apartment building on a former brownfield site next to a light-rail station is transforming an industrial neighborhood and giving residents transportation options. Watch the video.
  Via Verde, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, The Bronx, N.Y. – Built Projects (Honorable Mention)This affordable, transit-oriented, highly energy-efficient building features design that emphasizes health and wellness for residents.
• Charles City Riverfront Park, Charles City, Iowa – Plazas, Parks, and Public Places
  This multi-facility park built on a flood plain connects to downtown and adjacent low-income housing, brings economic benefits, and has become the recreational heart of the city. Watch the video.

Read the full stories.
View all the videos of the winning projects.
Read the press release.

Ceremony and Reception Don’t miss your chance to hear EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy at the awards ceremony recognizing the winners of EPA’s 2013 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement. The event will feature remarks by McCarthy, EPA Chief of Staff Gwen Keyes Fleming, and the award winners, as well as videos that tell the story of each winning project.
· Date: Wednesday, February 5, 11 a.m.
· Location: EPA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
· RSVP: If you are interested in attending and have not RSVP’d, please contact dale.sarah@epa.gov.

The ceremony will be followed by a panel discussion and reception on Capitol Hill hosted by Smart Growth America and Congresswoman Doris Matsui of Sacramento, California. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room B-369. To RSVP, email Jeri Mintzer at Jmintzer@smartgrowthamerica.org.