The EPA has updated a report entitled "National Characteristics of Drinking Water Systems Serving 10,000 or Fewer People." EPA first published this report in 1999, after the 1996 Amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act, to serve as a source of information for small drinking water systems and stakeholders that work with small systems. The central purpose of generating this report is to share characteristics of small public drinking water systems to better understand their challenges and better target technical assistance to improve their technical, managerial and financial capacity. To access the report online, click here.

EPA has recently launched an enhanced set of web pages to provide information and resources for meeting the water infrastructure challenges faced in communities across the country. To support local officials as they meet these challenges, the updated web pages also have a new section specifically for local officials. The pages provide information, resources, and materials designed to meet the needs of local officials committed to leaving a legacy of sustainable water infrastructure. To review EPA's revamped sustainable infrastructure web pages, click here.

With support from USDA-RD, EFC is excited to announce seven available mini-grants of up to $5,000 for research done by students, academic institutions, governments, and non-profits on issues relating to agricultural and water quality, as well as sustainable materials management in rural communities. Applications are due Oct. 28, 2011. For more information, visit the EFC website. 

Syracuse, NY | Sept. 14
9:30 AM - 2:30 PM  

Join local experts in organics management planning and composting from Cornell Waste Management Institute and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation for a day of learning and discussion. If you are looking to start composting yard trimmings or food scraps generated in your municipality or institution, or would like suggestions for making your organics recycling program more effective, then this forum is for you. This event is brought to you by EFC and the NYSAR3 Organics Council. For more information and to register, click here.

Syracuse, NY | Sept. 22-23

The Syracuse Center of Excellence's 11th Annual Symposium on Environmental and Energy Systems will  address opportunities and strategies for regional economic development throughout the state, as well as sessions and workshops designed to engage a wide audience, including industry practitioners, state and local officials, and university faculty and students.  

Confirmed speakers include John Cronin, the Director and CEO of The Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries; Amy Liu, Senior Fellow, Co-Director and Co-Founder of the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, The Brookings Institution; and Eric Keune, AIA, of Chicago, who will speak to the vision for a sustainable Great Lakes region. For more details and to register, click here.  

Syracuse, NY | Sept. 22
10:00 AM - 2:30 PM 

This TAPF will include public infrastructure funding updates from USDA-RD, NYS EFC, NYSDOS, and NYSDHUR, as well as an overview of the new land bank legislation in New York, and what it means for local community leaders and technical assistants. The workshop will take place in conjunction with the Syracuse Center of Excellence's annual Symposium.  For more information and to register, click here. Additionally, if you'd like to attend all or part of the SyracuseCoE Symposium, please register for it here. For a discounted Symposium price, use this coupon code: EFC2011TAPF

Ellicottville, NY | Oct. 6-7 

Continuing the Local Leaders Conference series hosted by EFC, this event in Ellicottville will focus on the needs of municipal leaders and provide technical assistance, funding updates and practical skill-building sessions. Speakers will address pressing environmental topics, equipping attendees with the tools needed to address challenges in our communities. For a full agenda and to register, click here.

Syracuse, NY | Nov. 16-17 

The 2011 New York Green Infrastructure Symposium, hosted by EFC and SUNY-ESF Outreach, will provide a focused discussion and gathering of leaders, professionals, researchers, government officials, and others who wish to learn more about advances in green infrastructure applications and connectiosn to workforce development, community vitlaity and Smart Growth principles.  

Abstracts are currently being accepted until Oct. 15. For more information on programming and how to submit an abstract, click here.

Sept. 14, 2011:

Rainwater Harvesting as a Stormwater Management Practice Webinar.

Details

Sept. 14, 2011 

Tips and Tools for Managing Organics: A Forum for Municipal and Institutional Solid Waste Managers
Syracuse, NY.

NYWEA 2011 Watershed Science and Technical Conference
West Point, NY 

Sept. 22, 2011:

Vacant Properties to Vibrant Communities: Technical Assistance Partnership Forum 

Syracuse, NY. 

Details  

Sept. 28-29, 2011: Skaneateles Lake Demonstration Project Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Training and Tour Skaneateles, NY

Details  

Oct. 6-7, 2011:

Smart Management for Small Communities: Practical Resources for Governance

Ellicottville, NY.

Details   

Oct. 11, 2011:

The Real Impact of Lean Government 

Virtual Conference. 

Details     

Oct. 24-26, 2011:

NYCOM Public Works Training School 

Saratoga Springs, NY

Details 

Oct. 25-26, 2011:

Northeast Recycling Council Fall 2011 Conference

Northampton, MA 

Details   

Nov. 16-17, 2011:

Growing Green Infrastructure in New York 

Syracuse, NY 

Details 

Environmental Justice Grant 

Applications due September 9 

Details   

Helpful links for funding sources, as well as a number of published funding guides, can be found here at the EFC website.

Green Project Exchange

™ is a user-driven database that showcases innovative, environmentally focused projects from across New York State.

This month's featured project is "Twice is Nice," a shop local initiative in the communities of Honeoye Falls and Mendon. The program encourages residents to shop at registered businesses at least twice a month to support a strong local economy. The program is funded by quarterly membership dues of participating businesses. As paying members, business owners are entitled to advertising solutions offered by the program- such as publicity on the Twice is Nice website, window clings, and access to the Town's e-mail listserv of over 800 residents.

 

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.