In this issue:

• Coalition Call on Thursday, October 27th
• Federal Policy Update
• Smart Growth America to provide free smart growth technical assistance to communities
• 2012 Transportation Planning Excellence Awards Nominations
• FY12 Proposal Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants

Coalition Call on Thursday, October 27th

This month’s coalition call will provide an overview on the work happening at Smart Growth America, including the Governor's Institute on Community Design, LOCUS, and our recently announced EPA Technical Assistance. The call will be on Thursday, October 27 at 4pm EST on this conference line: 712-432-0111, 668783#.

Federal Policy Update

• The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to preserve funding for the HUD Office of Sustainable Communities ($90 million) and DOT’s TIGER program ($550 million), both of which were zeroed out in the House bill.
• The current fiscal year has ended, and Congress has passed a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government through November 18th.
• The Senate is considering moving a few of annual appropriations bills over the next few weeks, including potentially the FY2012 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) appropriations bill. The T-HUD bill funds two important components of the Partnership, HUD's Sustainable Communities Initiative and DOT's TIGER grant program. If this is the case, we will be sure to let you know and appreciate your help in advocating for the Partnership for Sustainable Communities.
• Senator Menendez introduced the Livable Communities Act (LCA) with 17 Senators which is similar to Senator Dodds’ bill last year. The bill authorizes the HUD Office of Sustainable Communities and the Regional Planning and Community Challenge grants; click here for more information about the LCA. It is unlikely that the LCA will pass as a standalone bill, and SGA believes that becoming part of a piece of larger legislation will be the best outcome. We will keep you updated there is movement surrounding the LCA.

Smart Growth America to provide free technical assistance to communities

Smart Growth America is pleased to announce technical assistance will now be available to select communities interested in smart growth strategies – free of charge. The new program has been made possible by a five-year technical assistance grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The grant will be used to provide direct technical assistance to communities across the nation on how to develop local solutions to help their communities grow in ways that benefit families and businesses while protecting the environment and preserving a sense of place. Learn more from SGA's blog post.

2012 Transportation Planning Excellence Awards

The Transportation Planning Excellence Awards (TPEA) Program recognizes outstanding initiatives across the country to develop, plan, and implement innovative transportation planning practices. Winners represent a variety of planning organizations from across the county, and will receive awards at the TRB Summer Meeting in 2012 on the West Coast (location TBD). This biennial awards program is sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). For more information visit their website.

FY12 Proposal Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants

These grants may be used to address sites contaminated by petroleum and hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum). Opportunities for funding are as follows: Brownfields Assessment Grants (each funded up to $200,000 over three years; coalitions are funded up to $1,000,000 over three years), Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants (each funded up to $1,000,000 over five years) and Brownfields Cleanup Grants (each funded up to $200,000 over three years). The proposal deadline is November 28, 2011, and applications can be found here on EPA's website.