EPA Region 7

Communities Information Digest

September 2, 2016
Welcome to the latest EPA Region 7 Digest!
EPA Region 7s Communities Information
Digest provides communities with the latest
news about funding and technical assistance
opportunities, webinars, conferences, and
other activities related to human health and
the environment.

Cool and Connected workshop in Leon, IA

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Headlines
Funding and Technical Assistance
Opportunities
Meetings, Conferences, & Events
Webinars and Conference Calls

In August, EPA, USDA, and the Appalachian Regional

Commission sponsored a workshop in Leon, IA for
community stakeholders on ways to integrate
broadband services into revitalization planning.

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To learn more about the program see:

https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/coolconnected.

Headlines
National
*Obama Administration to Help Communities Revitalize Downtowns through
Broadband Service
EPA, USDA, and the Appalachian Regional Commission announced the selection of 10
communities to participate in the Cool & Connected planning assistance program, an
innovative initiative to help people use broadband service for downtown revitalization and
economic development.

*New Resource: What Climate Change Means for Your State

EPA published a series of fact sheets which focus on the impacts of climate change in each
of the 50 states and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. These 52 fact sheets compile
information from previously published synthesis and assessment reports to provide a handy
reference for state and local policymakers, businesses, and individuals who are looking to
communicate impacts of climate change in a given state.
*New Tool: Irrigation Investment Calculator
This free online tool combines historical weather data, soil data, and crop model data with
cost and loan information to help you decide if this long-term investment can be profitable.
Public Comment: Draft Guidance for Conducting Fish Consumption Surveys
The draft guidance updates the Guidance for Conducting Fish and Wildlife Consumption
Surveys (1998). EPA has revised this guidance in an effort to assist stakeholders in the
design, conduct, and analysis of surveys focused on characterizing consumption of finfish
and shellfish. Comments due September 13.
*Placemaking on Main Street: Revitalizing Rural Communities
Many of todays rural communities face urgent challenges: How can they add jobs and
support local businesses? How do they create a positive future for their kids? How can they
utilize limited financial, human, and infrastructural resources? How can placemaking in
these regions help grow strong economies, build much-needed infrastructure, and
strengthen a communitys already-existing historical, natural, and cultural assets?
*USDA to Provide Transitional Housing for Rural Americans in Recovery from
Substance Use Disorders
The initiative will use USDA's rural development resources to help fill the need for
transitional housing for people recovering from opioid and other substance use disorders.
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Funding & Technical Assistance Opportunities

SolSmart City Challenge Challenge runs through September 9
SolSmart County Challenge Challenge runs through September 9
NEA Our Town Creative Placemaking Grants September 12
*EPA Modeling of Climate Change Mitigation, Impacts and Adaptation Program
September 12, 2016
HUD Rural Capacity Building (RCB) Program September 13
USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Agriculture and Natural Resources
Science for Climate Variability and Change Challenge Area September 14
Federal Highway Administration Environmental Excellence Awards September 15

*Mid-America Region Council Sustainable Success Stories Call for Projects

September 23
*Future Cities Accelerator September 25
Applications for Climate Leadership Awards September 26
*National Adaptation Forum Call for Proposals September 30
*Safe Places to Play, US Soccer Foundation Grants Letter of Interest: September, 30
Application Deadline: October 7
*Fourth National Climate Assessment Author Nominations and Technical Inputs
September 30
*EPA Fifth Annual Campus RainWorks Challenge Prize Competition September 30
EPA National Wetland Condition Assessment Campus Research Challenge
September 30
Build Healthy, Resilient Coastal Communities October 5
*FTA and Smart Growth America free TOD Technical Assistance October 7
PeopleForBikes Community Grant Program October 7
Asthma Empowerment Collaborations to Reduce Childhood Asthma Disparities
Letters of Intent: October 16, Applications due: November 16
*Levitt AMP [Your City] Grant Awards October 10
*HUD Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program October 12
*EPA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) October 20
*DOE First Steps Toward Developing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency on
Tribal Lands Program October 20
National Science Foundations Environmental Sustainability Program October 20
*EPAs Smart City Air Challenge October 28
*Performance Partnership Pilots for Disconnected Youth October 31
Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change
Challenge Area November 17

Ongoing Opportunities

POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization)

Grants Applications accepted on a rolling basis
Tribal Climate Change Funding Guide Regularly updated grants and programs
EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program
USDA Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Contact Local USDA Service
Center
Apply for a Fruit Tree Planting Foundation Orchard in Your Community
American Planning Association Community Planning Assistance Teams
Climate Solutions University Adaptation Plan Assistance
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Meetings, Conferences, & Events

*FEATURED EVENT: Department of Housing and Urban Development Listening
Session Tour - 2020 Environmental Justice Strategy
To solicit feedback on its updated EJ strategy, HUD will host a series of public meetings
in various locations around the country to provide an opportunity for communication
among interested parties.
Seattle, Washington September 6
Detroit, Michigan September 8
Charleston, West Virginia September 13
Boston, Massachusetts September 16
Central Appalachian Regional Brownfields Summit September 7-8, Charleston, WV
National Working Summit on Transportation in Rural America September 7-9,
Denver, CO
2016 Missouri Recycling Association (MORA) Recycling Conference September 1214, St. Louis, MO
EcoDistricts Summit 2016 September 12-15, Denver, CO
Pro Walk/Pro Bike/Pro Place September 12-15, Vancouver, BC
Placemaking Week September 12-18, Vancouver, BC
*Placemaking Leadership Forum September 14-17, Vancouver, BC
Institute for Tribal Environmental Partners (ITEP) Training: Climate Change
Adaptation Planning September 13-15, Nebraska City, NE

Promoting Economic Mobility: Putting Evidence to Action for Communities

September 14, Washington, D.C.
Climate Week in NYC September 19-25, New York City, NY
*ICMA Annual Conference September 25-28 Kansas City, MO
International Economic Development Council Annual Conference September 25-28,
Cleveland, OH
Designing Cities Conference September 26-29, Seattle, WA
Smart Cities Week September 27-29, Washington, D.C.
National Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference September 28-30, Baltimore, MD
EPA Region 6 Annual Stormwater Conference October 2-6, Oklahoma City, OK
Growing Sustainable Communities Annual Conference October 4-5, Dubuque, IA
*Rail~Volution Conference October 9-12, San Francisco, CA
2016 AARP Livable Communities National Conference October 17- 19, Chicago, IL
Managing Water Resources: System Losses, Auditing, Conservation, and Drought
Preparedness October 19, Emporia, KS
Green Business Engagement National Network Summit October 19-20, St. Louis,
MO
Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Conference October 19-21, Washington, D.C.
National Training Conference on the Toxics Release Inventory and Environmental
Conditions in Communities October 19-21, Washington, D.C.
Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Conference October 20-22, Baltimore, MD
*Rally 2016: The National Land Conservation Conference October 28-30,
Minneapolis, MN
American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition October 29November 2, Denver, CO
CitiesAlive: 14th Annual Green Roof and Wall Conference November 1-4,
Washington, D.C.
New Partners for Smart Growth Conference February 2-4, 2017, St. Louis, MO
2017 Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference February 5-8, 2017, Lincoln, NE
Climate Leadership Conference March 1-3, 2017, Chicago, IL
2017 National Brownfields Training Conference December 5-7, 2017, Pittsburg, PA
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Webinars and Conference Calls

*DOE Office of Indian Energy Funding Opportunity for the First Steps Toward
Developing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency on Tribal Lands Program
September 6, 2-4:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will provide a description of the Funding Opportunity Announcement, the
types of applications sought, who is eligible, cost share and other requirements, what the
application needs to contain, how to ask questions, and how applications will be selected.
Recycling Rigid Plastics Beyond Bottles: Resources to Support MRFs and
Municipalities September 6, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will provide an overview of resources for MRFs and Municipalities to support
the expansion of plastics collected.
*Learn more about free TOD technical assistance from FTA and Smart Growth
America September 7, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
The Federal Transit Administration in partnership with Smart Growth America is offering
free technical assistance to communities to develop tools, guidance, and other resources
for enhancing transit-oriented development (TOD) within transit corridors or around a
public transportation station, and in economically distressed communities.
Learn more about this assistance and the application process during this webinar.
*Citizen Ingenuity and Impact Assessment September 7, 12-1:30 p.m. CST
This webinar will explore how experts are rising above skeptical views about impact
assessments and are using them to ensure critical issues are fully described and
analyzed, and will reveal how citizens are taking the lead to conduct impact assessments
as a means to participate in designing their future during the planning process.
*SepticSmart Week 2016: Tools and Outreach September 8, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will explore tools and outreach efforts for the upcoming SepticSmart Week
2016. Each year, EPA holds SepticSmart Week with outreach activities to encourage
homeowners and communities to care for and maintain their septic systems.
*Protecting Pollinators through Sustainable Superfund Reuse September 8, 1-2:30
p.m. CST
This webinar will highlight opportunities to support pollinators through sustainable and
conscientious reuse of Superfund sites and other blighted properties. Speakers will share
case study examples of pollinator habitat on contaminated sites, as well as available
resources to aid in supporting and protecting pollinators.
*Increasing Awareness of Federal Grants and Resource Opportunities September 8,
12-1:30 p.m. CST
This webinar by the Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice will
highlight grants and resource opportunities available from USDA and EPA. Presentations
will focus on agency grants for communities facing environmental justice concerns.
*First-Mile, Last-Mile: Connections to Transit September 8, 1-2:00 p.m. CST
This webinar explores ways for transit and walkable community advocates to work
together to create solutions in which the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

*North Central U.S. Monthly Climate and Drought Summary and Outlook September
15, 1-2:00 p.m. CST
This monthly briefing covers the region from the Rockies to the Great Lakes. Subject
matter includes past and current conditions of climate variables like snowpack,
temperatures, precipitation, etc. In addition, potential and ongoing impacts from climate
phenomena will be considered across sectors, and outlook information from two weeks to
the next few months/seasons will be discussed.
*State Resiliency Initiatives: From Issue to Action! September 22, 1:002:00 p.m.
CST
Two floodplain and resilience professionals will discuss how different statewide
approaches are being implemented to better enable their communities and citizens to be
more resilient.
*Responding To Drought and Water Challenges - National Kickoff Meeting October
4, 12-2:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will engage Forest Service employees and partners in planning for and
adapting to the impacts of drought and water challenges in the face of a changing climate.
2015 PET Container Recycling Rate Report Overview October 18, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will serve as an Executive Summary, featuring data and analyses from the
Report on Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity in 2015.
2015 National Postconsumer Plastics Bottle Recycling Rate Report Overview
November 15, 12-1:00 p.m. CST
This webinar will serve as an Executive Summary, featuring data and analyses from the
2015 National Postconsumer Plastics Bottle Recycling Rate Report.

On-Going and On-Demand Webinars

Leveraging Resources for Brownfields Revitalization Webinar
This previously recorded webinar discusses available tools to assist communities in
leveraging resources to address community revitalization goals and challenges. It
includes a presentation on Dubuque, Iowa's efforts to leverage its own resources to attract
other federal, state, public and private sources of funding and technical assistance.
EPA Computer Training Helps Water and Wastewater Utilities Build Resilience
The training covers several topics including: identifying and funding potential hazard
mitigation projects, developing and updating an Emergency Response Plan (ERP),
coordinating mutual aid and assistance during emergencies, conducting damage
assessments, and many more.
EPA Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments 10-Part Webinar Series
Student Curriculum: Recipes for Healthy Kids, and a Healthy Environment
Each 45-minute lesson empowers kids to take steps in their everyday lives to improve
the environment for their communities and reduce their environmental risk.
LeanPath presents: Five Food Waste Myths to Debunk Now!

This webinar will explore five myths about food waste and the facts you need to debunk
them in your kitchen.
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