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<br />4. The community, region, or state must clearly be facing adevelopment-related challenge, <br />whether it involves growth pressures, affordable housing needs, attracting more development, or <br />planning for the future, and must have identified opportunities for changing the way it handles <br />growth. The application should include a discussion of growth conditions in the area of interest, <br />as well as assets and challenges to implementing smart growth practices. The application should <br />also specify the type of assistance (policy analysis or public participatory processes) being <br />requested and how it will be applied. <br />5. The application must have a specific, clearly defined project, and there must be a clear role for <br />a team to assist with policy analysis or public participation. Applicants must describe the project; <br />discuss how it relates to local, regional, or state growth; describe partnerships in place to help <br />make the project succeed; and explain how its success would affect the applicant's <br />environmental, social, and economic health. EPA will work with each selected applicant to <br />develop a detailed statement of work to ensure that the contract support maximizes the expert <br />assistance available to the community, region, or state. <br />6. The applicant must be able to demonstrate how it anticipates using the results from the EPA- <br />led team to implement changes at the. local, regional, or state level. The applicant should also <br />describe the authority that it has to implement any changes and the steps necessary to implement <br />design or policy options developed through the project. <br />7. The applicant must form a team to work with the EPA-led expert team and to follow up on the <br />technical assistance. This team should include representatives from relevant sectors, including <br />government, business, public interest groups, civic associations, and individual citizens. The <br />team will be responsible for working with the EPA-team pre- and post-site visit and working <br />with the applicant to ensure all appropriate stakeholders are represented in the assistance. <br />As a proponent of collaborative environmental problem solving, EPA supports meaningful <br />public involvement, especially among underserved populations or non-traditional stakeholders. <br />Applicants are encouraged to reach beyond political and professional stakeholders and target <br />faith-based groups, parents, senior citizens, schools, retirement centers, and community service <br />organizations when forming their team. <br />Applicants should submit letters of support and participation from the principal partners on the <br />team, signed by an individual who can commit the organization to the project. The EPA-led team <br />will be on site for only a few days. The applicant and its partners must carry out the bulk of the <br />work and must have the dedication- and vision to succeed. Applicants must also specify the staff <br />who will work on this project before and during the team visit and during the follow-up. <br />8. Elected officials -mayors, county commissioners, city council members, state agency <br />directors, etc. -must support this project and be committed to its success. T'he response to this <br />request for applications will require a letter of support from the primary elected official in the <br />community, as well as a list of other elected officials who support it. If a state agency is <br />applying, this letter should be from the agency head or elected official who will have <br />responsibility for carrying out the project. <br />4 <br />