United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Smart Growth Technical Assistance Opportunity

Local Foods, Local Places is accepting applications for technical assistance to help communities create walkable, healthy, and economically vibrant neighborhoods by promoting local foods.

Applications are due by September 15, 2015, at 11:59 PM EDT.

Eligibility and Special Considerations

Representatives of communities (including neighborhoods or main street districts) anywhere in the United States are eligible to apply. EPA encourages applications from communities that are economically challenged and in the early phases of their efforts to promote local foods and community revitalization. Special consideration will be given to communities in federally designated Promise Zones or USDA StrikeForce counties.

Communities that are selected for the program and that are located in the federally designated Appalachia region or the federally designated Delta region may be eligible for implementation support beyond that provided through the technical assistance process.

Applicants will be evaluated on how well the project can help create walkable, healthy, economically vibrant neighborhoods through the development of local food systems. Selected projects will support one or more of USDA's Seven Strategies for Economic Development and the HUD-DOT-EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities' Livability Principles.

Read the Local Foods, Local Places Application.

More information is available on the EPA Website.

Promise Zones Announcement

Provide Your Comments on the Proposed Selection Process, Criteria, and Submissions for the Third Round of the Promise Zone Initiative

The third and final round of the Promise Zones competition will open in the Fall of 2015. HUD and USDA invite you to provide written comments on ways to improve the future competition.

From July 29, 2015 through September 28, 2015, public comments will be accepted on the proposed selection process, criteria, and submissions for the Third Round of the Promise Zone Initiative.

This is an opportunity to provide feedback and suggestions on how the Administration can better support communities to jumpstart economic development, job creation, affordable housing, education, and public safety. Read the Federal Register Notice.

All written comments will be considered before finalizing the Third Round Application Guides to ensure that the initiative can support communities more effectively in future years.

The draft Third Round Urban Application Guide and the draft Third Round Rural and Tribal Application Guide are available on the Promise Zones website.

MAX Survey Platform

To help applicants, HUD has created a MAX Survey test site to provide an opportunity to test the electronic application submission platform. Communities will be able to request an individualized link to access and test the application stage site including fillable forms, attachment upload fields, error checks and email notifications.

Access MAX Survey.

The third and final round of the Promise Zones competition will open in the Fall of 2015 with announcements anticipated in the Spring of 2016. HUD intends to designate five urban communities and USDA intends to designate one rural and one tribal community

Upcoming Webcast/Webinars

HUD will host a webcast to provide an overview of the draft Third Round Urban Application Guide and to provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions about the request for comment.

Urban Promise Zone Initiative Stakeholder Webcast
Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 2:30 - 3:30 PM EDT
Please RSVP to receive the Urban webcast link.

Rural and Tribal Stakeholder Webinars

The USDA will host two distinct webinars to provide an overview of the draft Tribal and Rural Third Round Application Guide and to provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions about the request for comment.

Rural Promise Zone Initiative Stakeholder Webinar
Wednesday, August 12, 2015 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT
Register for the webinar.

Tribal Promise Zone Initiative Stakeholder Webinar
Wednesday, August 12, 2015 from 2:15 - 3:15 PM EDT
Register for the webinar.

More information is available on the Promise Zones website.

Promise Zones in the News

NJ.Com: USDA's Camden Visit Includes Corner Store Stop, Round Table Discussion

Courier-Post: Camden Takes Baby Steps Toward a Culture of Health

Next City: L.A. and Philly Form First Promise Zones Partnership