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<br />• crafting policies that allow or encourage specific smart growth techniques (e.g., transit- <br />oriented development; infill; redeveloping vacant properties, brownfields, abandoned gas <br />stations, etc.); <br />• reviewing state department of transportation investments to support smart growth; <br />• using smart growth to balance the goals of economic development and cultural <br />development through heritage preservation; <br />• analyzing plans, guidelines, criteria, or procedures for school investments; <br />• retrofitting a commercial corridor; <br />• coordinating communities' smart growth design with active aging programs; <br />• reviewing state, regional, or local investments and policies to support climate change <br />goals and more compact development; <br />• evaluating regional equity through access to healthy food and public transportation or <br />capacity building in underserved communities; <br />• analyzing a pending update to zoning codes; <br />• using smart growth to address BRAC-related challenges, including growing populations, <br />due to military realignment or closing of a local military facility; <br />• meeting a statutory deadline on stormwater ordinances; <br />• crafting a vision for reclaiming derelict property with the assistance of community <br />development corporations and youth-based housing rehabilitation programs; or <br />• reviewing subdivision regulations to support complete street networks and compact <br />development. <br />EPA is particularly interested in projects that seek to resolve challenges associated with <br />increasing the supply, quality, or accessibility of affordable (or workforce) housing in a smart <br />growth development context. While expanding housing choice is a core principle of smart <br />growth, the regulatory framework often inhibits the private market from producing a range~of <br />housing types that would satisfy the needs of all income levels. Some communities have had <br />success addressing affordability challenges using smart growth approaches, thereby better <br />understanding the environmental, transportation, and fiscal impacts - at the household and <br />community levels - of different housing options. Projects that can use this assistance to develop <br />innovative, practical, and replicable solutions to these challenges will merit careful consideration <br />under criteria #4 (see below) from reviewers this year. <br />Selected communities or states will receive assistance in the form of a multi-day visit from a <br />team of experts organized by EPA and other national partners to work with local leaders. EPA <br />will provide this assistance through an Agency contract vehicle, not a grant. Team members will <br />be nationally known experts in disciplines to be determined by the community's unique needs. <br />Team visits consist of meetings with state or local staff to study the context and specific project <br />and discussions with elected officials, business leaders, citizen organizations, and representatives <br />of many different sectors. On the last day, the team presents preliminary findings to the applicant <br />and its leadership. After the visit, the team works with the applicant to deliver a final report. <br />EPA plans to assist three to five communities in 2008. EPA anticipates announcing the selected <br />communities in fall of 2008 and working with the communities over a period of twelve months. <br />The lessons learned from these projects will be used to help other communities with similar <br />challenges. <br />2 <br />