The Temple-Villanova Sustainable Stormwater Initiative (T-VSSI) is excited to announce an informational workshop, “Financing Opportunities for Green Infrastructure”.  T-VSSI is a research initiative that includes Temple University’s Center for Sustainable Communities and Villanova University’s Urban Stormwater Partnership.  This program is made possible through funding from the William Penn Foundation under a new T-VSSI grant. The workshop seeks to provide municipal officials and others in Southeastern Pennsylvania and surrounding areas with detailed information about federal and state green infrastructure (broadly defined to include stormwater, alternative energy, green buildings, energy conservation, etc.) programs.

Financing Opportunities for Green Infrastructure
Monday, March 29 2010: 1-4 pm
Temple University Ambler Campus Learning Center Auditorium

Preliminary Agenda

Welcome/Introductions

• Jeffrey Featherstone, T-VSSI Co-Principal Investigator and Research Professor,  Department of Community and Regional  Planning, Temple University.

Overview of Financing Opportunities Available Through the Commonwealth

• Jim Creedon, Secretary Department of General Services and Chief Implementation Officer for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Green Infrastructure Financing Programs (speakers to be announced)

• PA Department of Environmental Protection: Upcoming Request for Proposals for ARRA funded energy opportunities in Green Building and Geothermal
• PA Department of Community and Economic Development:  Progress and status of the Weatherization Assistance Program, and an overview of the ARRA Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds and Recovery Zone Facility Bonds
• PA Department of General Services: Overview of the ESCO concept, its success in the Capitol complex and how local governments can use this concept

Success Stories (speakers to be announced)

PENNVest 2009 Stormwater project awards and early results

Who Should Attend?

County and municipal officials, planners, engineers and others engaged in funding, planning, designing and managing green infrastructure projects and programs.

Registration

Registration for this free workshop is required.  To register please send an e-mail with your name, title and name of organization to Judy Shatz at judy.shatz@temple.edu

Directions

Directions to the Ambler Campus and Ambler Learning Center (building 2 on the campus map) are available here.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is making nearly $2 million available in 2010 to reduce pollution at the local level through the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program.

The purpose of this program is to build partnerships that help the public understand and reduce toxic risks from numerous sources close to home, and to improve human health and the local environment. Level I awards are for those who wish to establish community-based partnerships that will assess toxic problems and consider options to reduce their risks.  Awards for Level I will range from $75,000-$100,000 each.  Level II awards are for those who have already formed partnerships and wish to implement risk-reduction activities and measure the results.  Awards for Level II projects will range from $150,000-$300,000 each.  Eligible applicants include county and local organizations, non-profits, businesses, schools, and tribes.

Note that this is an extremely competitive grant. In 2009, EPA received 235 eligible proposals and awarded only 9 grants.

Proposals are due by March 9, 2010.  Find more information and examples of CARE projects at: www.epa.gov/care.  See the complete EPA announcement.

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American Water Funds 2009 Environmental Grant Programs: Company Awards More Than $114,000 to 25 Community Improvement Projects from Business Wire.  American Water Works Company, Inc., the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company, announced recipients of the company’s 2009 Environmental Grant Program awards.  A total of 25 projects will be supported by grants totaling more than $114,000.  Read about Pennsylvania’s nine projects funded by the program.

Tredyffrin Gets Help with Stormwater Issues from the Chester County Daily Local News. With ongoing stormwater issues continuing to be in the forefront in Tredyffrin Township, the recent announcement from State Sen. Andy Dinniman and State Rep. Paul Drucker of the approval of a $523,974 grant to help alleviate stormwater problems has come at a good time.  The grant will target several township residential neighborhoods being affected by excess stormwater.   Read more about how a Pennsylvania township is mitigating stormwater runoff from existing development.

$14.9 Million in Stimulus Funding Awarded For PA Agricultural Conservation Practices from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.  The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) was awarded $14.9 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to pay local contractors to install a variety of farm conservation practices that will reduce pollution and, in some cases, use manure to create energy.  The grant funding provided by PENNVEST will be used in 16 counties in Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  Read more about the grant’s various benefits.

LTAP-TTAP Centers to Offer the CISEC Inspector Program Nationwide from The Stormwater Journal.  CISEC, Inc. will be presenting its inspector training modules and administering its nationwide certification examination through the Federal Highway Administration’s Local & Tribal Technical Assistance Programs (LTAP/TTAP).  The 58 LTAP/TTAP centers can now provide inspectors, designers, and regulatory agency personnel more opportunities to receive training in CISEC, Inc.’s professional sediment and erosion control inspector program and, if qualified, sit for the CISEC nationwide certification examination.   Read more about the goals and other aspects of the program.

Stone Riffles to Control Stormwater on American Bottom from the Environmental News Service.  A village in Madison County, Illinois will demonstrate a newly developed stormwater management system that slows water before it gets into creeks and drainage ditches.  Find out how!

Malibu’s Innovative Stormwater Project Will Answer Call to Action in NRDC Beach Report.  The Natural Resources Defense Council released its annual survey of water quality at U.S. beaches called “Testing the Waters 2009.”  In addition to reporting 2008 beach closure and advisory days, the report states “…the best way to protect swimmers from beachwater pollution is to prevent it.  Federal, state and local government can make this a priority by requiring better controls on stormwater and sewage, the two largest known sources of beachwater pollution.”  More about Malibu’s unique solution.

Upcoming Events

Have you registered for StormCon?? The worlds largest stormwater conference is being held August 16-20 in Anaheim, California.  Don’t miss it!  StormCon is a great opportunity to strengthen your skills and knowledge in an intensive workshop setting with other inquisitive colleagues.  Attendees at StormCon ‘09 will:

• Discover which BMPs are the most effective
• See the latest in LID, post-construction, and retrofitting practices
• Watch presentations on case studies from all over the nation
• Learn how to meet NPDES Phase II requirements
• Hear the latest news on stormwater regulatory issues from the USEPA
• Gather tips on successful stormwater public outreach efforts
• Be the first to hear the latest research and testing results
• Meet the leading vendors of the most innovative stormwater equipment, products, services, and technology
• Network with other stormwater professionals, engineers, and practitioners

Find out more.  Register now!

FREE!!  Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure Workshops sponsored by the EPA Water Permits Division and various States.  This workshop is intended primarily for municipal governments with wet weather management responsibilities, i.e., stormwater, combined sewer overflows, sanitary sewer overflows and nonpoint source runoff.  The workshop will focus on how these programs can be effectively managed using green infrastructure technologies and approaches.  Click here for more information including dates and locations.

FREE!!  NPDES Permit Writers’ Training Course sponsored by the EPA Water Permits Division, various States, and the EPA Regional Offices.  The objective of the NPDES Permit Writers’ Training Course is to provide the basic regulatory framework and technical considerations that support the development of wastewater discharge permits as required under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program.  The course is designed for new permit writers, highlighting the process of developing, issuing, and complying with NPDES permits.  Experienced permit writers wanting a refresher course and other water program staff wanting to learn more about the NPDES program also are welcome.  The format of the course is a combination of lecture, case examples, and practical exercises that are geared to acquainting participants with the tools and resources available to assist them in writing NPDES permits. Click here for more information including dates and locations.

Check out the Center for Watershed Protection webcast archives to view “The Art & Science of Stormwater Retrofitting” by Michael Novotney and “BMP Performance” by Neely Law, PhD,  by visiting the U.S. EPA’s NPDES Training Courses and Workshops page, which contains many other informative webcasts.

Reminders!

August 12 - CALL FOR PAPERS Watershed 2010: Innovations in Watershed Management Under Land Use and Climate Change

August 12 - CALL FOR PAPERS 2010 International Low Impact Development Conference: Redefining Water in the City

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