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Six New England Communities Will Get EPA Smart Growth Assistance

Release Date: 02/07/2012
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – Feb. 7, 2012) – Six New England communities will benefit from EPA technical assistance through the “Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities” program.  The communities, Simsbury, Conn., Fall River, Holyoke, Northampton and Roxbury, Mass., and Burlington, Vt. were among 56 communities in 26 states that will receive technical assistance under this program.

Each community will receive the assistance from EPA-funded private-sector experts.  The technical experts will work with the communities on actions they can take to improve the economy, the environment, and quality of life.  Some examples may include improving pedestrian access and safety, incorporating green infrastructure, or conducting an economic and fiscal health assessment.

“EPA is very pleased to be part of a coordinated effort to help these six New England communities develop practical and sustainable approaches that can lead to quality of life improvements for citizens, and which can help bolster our economy,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office.

Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities is a project of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities among EPA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The interagency collaboration coordinates federal investments in infrastructure, facilities, and services to get better results for communities and use taxpayer money more efficiently.  The partnership is helping communities across the country create more housing choices, make transportation more efficient and reliable, reinforce existing investments, and support vibrant and healthy neighborhoods that attract businesses.

In 2010, in a different Smart Growth program, EPA selected the Rhode Island-based KeepSpace program as one of eight recipients nationwide to receive targeted technical assistance on growth and development issues.

More information:  

- Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities: https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/buildingblocks.htm

- Partnership for Sustainable Communities:  http://www.sustainablecommunities.gov

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*** Edited on Feb. 08, 2012:

The final sentence was edited to make clear that the 2010 selection of the Rhode Island-based KeepSpace program was under a different Smart Growth program than the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities effort.