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Welcome to the latest edition of the EFC eNews! Inside, you'll find recent news from EPA and other partners and organizations on environmental policy and issues, new publications, funding opportunities, and upcoming events.
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Beginning in 2010, EPA's Office of Water and Office of Sustainable Communities jointly sponsored a pilot technical assistance program with three state CWSRF programs to explore potential modifications that could encourage investments in public infrastructure such as roads; utilities; schools; and police, fire, and ambulance service.
As part of this pilot program, EPA funded the Environmental Finance Center at Syracuse University (EFC-SU) through an existing cooperative agreement to provide technical assistance to the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (NYS EFC), the state authority responsible for managing the CWSRF program. This technical assistance included coordinating workshops and feedback sessions, soliciting additional stakeholder input, and assisting NYS EFC with collecting and compiling recommendations on how the New York CWSRF could support more sustainable projects through a focus on energy efficiency, asset management, and smart growth principles.
The results of this work are in Section II of the report, which compiles lessons learned and best practices in these pilot states and other states undertaking similar initiatives so that all SRF programs can benefit from this information and thereby facilitate more widespread adoption of practices that encourage states to focus resources in existing communities and infrastructure systems to leverage past investments.
Learn More
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In July, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that projects in 30 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will be funded to support small and emerging rural businesses.
The funding was made available through the Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program, which promotes development of small and emerging businesses in rural areas. RBEGs may also be used to help fund distance learning networks and employment-related adult education programs. Eligible applicants for the program include public bodies, nonprofit corporations and federally recognized Indian Tribes.
Since the beginning of the Obama Administration, the RBEG program has helped create or save more than 73,000 rural jobs, provided over $170.9 million in economic development assistance, improved manufacturing capability, and expanded health care and educational facilities, and has either expanded or helped establish almost 41,070 rural businesses and community projects.
Read the Full Story from the USDA
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Workshops, Trainings & Webinars
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August 15, 2013
2:00-3:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time
This one-hour, interactive webinar will offer participants information about financial sustainability metrics for small water systems (serving 10,000 or fewer people). By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to apply a variety of useful financial benchmarks to their systems; learn how to compare wisely one water system's rates and finances with those of other systems; and become familiar with the features and benefits of our water and wastewater rates dashboards.
The Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN) is a university-based organization creating innovative solutions to the difficult how-to-pay issues of environmental protection and improvement. The EFCN works with the public and private sectors to promote sustainable environmental solutions while bolstering efforts to manage costs.
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Oncenter Complex, Syracuse, NY
Rates:
Early-Bird Rate - $120
Partner Program Institution Student - Complimentary Registration
Non-Partner Program Institution Student - $40
Registration includes access to the Symposium program on Tuesday as well as the evening networking reception on Monday night.
Register Now
The 13th annual SyracuseCoE Symposium: Urban Reinvention and Resilience will feature the latest results from collaborators from across the nation and beyond. This year's Symposium will feature sessions and workshops designed to engage a wide audience, including industry practitioners, state and local officials, and university faculty and students.
Stay tuned as we reveal new and unique features of this year's program!
Learn More
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Making Organic Waste Products Work for You: New York Compost Facility Tour & Workshop
August 6-7, 2013
NYS Grange Headquarters
100 Grange Place, Cortland, NY
Cornell Waste Management Institute, Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District are sponsoring a workshop and facility tour August 6-7, 2013. Some of topics to be covered: What makes a good compost?, Site setup, maintenance and permitting, and Compost quality.
More Information & Registration
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NYSAR3 Holds 24th Annual NYS Recycling Conference & Trade Show in Cooperstown this November 24th Annual NYS Recycling Conference & Trade Show Cooperstown, NY | November 13-14, 2013 The Annual Conference is a great opportunity for participants to network with other recycling professionals, decision makers, recycling coordinators, state and business representatives from across New York, our neighboring states and various recycling associations. Learn about the latest recycling and composting trends, markets and policies in workshops, technical sessions and round table discussions. NYSAR3 and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will partner to present an agenda and exhibition not only for New York State but also neighboring states.
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Green Bag Lunch on Cultural Resources and Entertainment
September 13, 2013 | 12:00pm-1:30pm
Syracuse Center of Excellence
727 E. Washington Street, Rm 203
GreeningUSA and the Syracuse Center of Excellence Center for Sustainable Community Solutions are inviting community members and experts in each of the 12 Traitsİ to participate and be recognized for their contributions!
You will not only be helping our community move toward sustainability, but you will be helping to create a model for communities across the country to use!
This event is free! Bring your own lunch, drinks will be provided.
Contact: Peter Arsenault, peter@jaarch.com
Learn More
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Upcoming Smart Growth Webinars from EPA
EPA's Smart Growth Program invites you to attend two upcoming webinars:
Sustainable Communities HotReport
August 21, 1:00pm-2:00pm Eastern
The Sustainable Communities HotReport is a new web-based tool that gives community leaders and residents a quick and easy way to determine how well their community is performing on a variety of sustainability indicators, including transportation, housing, economic development, income, and equity. Produced by the U.S. Census Bureau and the HUD-DOT-EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities, the tool can help communities measure their own performance and compare themselves to communities of a similar type.
Smart Growth and Economic Success
September 18, 3:00pm-4:00pm
This webinar will explore how smart growth strategies at the regional, city, and neighborhood level can maximize economic advantages while creating attractive, healthy communities that help protect the environment.
Learn More & Register
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EPA Software Helps Reduce Water Pollution as Part of President's Climate Action Plan / National Stormwater Calculator Helps Manage Stormwater Runoff
As part of President Obama's Climate Action Plan, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the National Stormwater Calculator, an innovative addition to the administration's virtual climate resilience toolkit. EPA's new calculator will help property owners, developers, landscapers, and urban planners make informed land-use decisions to protect local waterways from pollution caused by stormwater runoff. Preventing stormwater runoff, which can impact drinking water resources and local ecosystems, protects people's health and the environment.
The calculator, which is phase I of the Stormwater Calculator and Climate Assessment Tool package announced in the President's Climate Action Plan in June, is a desktop application that estimates the annual amount of stormwater runoff from a specific site, based on local soil conditions, slope, land cover, and historical rainfall records. Users can enter any U.S. location and select different scenarios to learn how specific green infrastructure changes, including inexpensive changes like rain barrels and rain gardens, can prevent pollution. This information helps users determine how adding green infrastructure can be one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce stormwater runoff.
Learn More
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EPA Releases Model Program to Assist State Septic Programs in Managing Water Quality Impacts in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
EPA has released a model program for onsite wastewater treatment systems in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to help states more effectively prevent nutrients from entering the Bay from onsite or septic systems, which will improve water quality. When properly designed, sited and maintained, decentralized systems like septic systems can treat wastewater effectively and protect surface water and groundwater. Inadequately treated sewage from decentralized systems can pose risks to human health and the environment.
The model program is part of EPA's effort to collaborate with state and local partners in promoting nitrogen reductions from onsite systems.
Download the Report
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Cleaner Greener Communities Program Phase II Implementation Grants
The New York Cleaner, Greener Communities Program empowers regions to create more sustainable communities by funding smart growth practices.
Through Phase II of CGC, NYSERDA is offering competitive grants for the implementation of innovative community-based projects that reduce current greenhouse gas emissions, create more resilient, sustainable communities, and position New York State to prepare for a cleaner future.
Projects will stimulate environmentally sustainable economic growth consistent with the Phase I Regional Sustainability Plans and Regional Economic Develop Council (REDC) Strategic Plans. By integrating smart growth principles into all aspects of project execution, these innovative and exemplary projects will be holistic in nature, exhibit positive large-scale impacts, and contribute to an improved quality of life in New York.
Funding Agency: NYSERDA
Amount: $30,000,000 total available
Deadline: Category 1: September 30, 2013
Category 2&3: August 12, 2013
Learn More
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NYS Consolidated Funding Application Project Information
The CFA was created in 2011 to give economic development project applicants expedited and streamlined access to a combined pool of grant money and tax credits from dozens of existing programs. A third round of the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) is currently open. Up to $536 million will be available through the CFA for direct assistance to businesses and other organizations, community development, environmental improvements,
energy improvements, sustainable planning and implementation, education and workforce development, and to provide low cost financing.
The CFA opened to applicants on June 17, 2013 at 8:00 AM and applications must be submitted by 4:00 PM on August 12, 2013. Learn More
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The Environmental Finance Center at Syracuse University facilitates the development of sustainable and resilient communities across US EPA Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and eight tribal nations).
Located at the SyracuseCoE Center for Sustainable Community Solutions, EFC enhances the administrative and financial capacities of state and local government officials, nonprofit organizations, and private sectors to make change toward improved environmental infrastructure and quality of life.
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EFC Staff
Ana V. Arache
Program Coordinator
Aimee Clinkhammer Project Scientist
Khristopher Dodson
Senior Program Manager
Kathy Forrest
Budget Administrator
Mark Lichtenstein
Executive Director and
Principal Investigator
Mandy Westerdahl
Communications Manager
Melissa Young
Senior Program Manager
Tara Baron
Laura Cardoso
Caitlin Eger
Paul Esposito
Gabi Levinson
Kate Palermo
Danielle Preiss
Lisa Ruggero
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Environmental Finance Center programs and projects are supported in part by funding from USDA-RD and EPA.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, sex, and familial status.
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6582 (TDD). --------- To reach us via the NYS Relay Service, please dial 7-1-1. If you are calling from within Syracuse University, please dial 800-662-1220. Click here to download instructions on how to use this service. You may also contact us via e-mail at efc@syracusecoe.org.
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