February 22, 2010 - Sustainable Communities Workshop

Congressman Yarmuth addresses the audience at the Sustainable Communities Workshop held February 22, 2010.

Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3-D) hosted a Sustainable Communities Workshop in Louisville, Kentucky. Partners and panelists included were HUD, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Special segments and best practices were provided by the University of Kentucky's (U of K) College of Design.

"HUD is honored to have a place at the table with such strong supporters that value the health and well being of our citizens, communities, and environment," said HUD Kentucky Field Office Director Krista Mills. "We know that this is simply the beginning of an ongoing partnership with Congressman Yarmuth, EPA, DOT, CDC, and U of K in making both Louisville and Kentucky a successful model for the rest of our nation."

There were more than 350 attendees, including developers, contractors, architects, engineers, city planners, community organizers and advocates, as well as members of the transportation, housing and construction industries. Among the items discussed was HUD's partnership with EPA and DOT to promote sustainable communities and livability principles. The audience was also introduced to HUD's new Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities and was invited to comment on the Advance Notice and Request for Comments - Sustainable Communities Grant Program through March 12, 2010.

More than 350 people attended Congressman John Yarmuth's Sustainable Communities Conference

Gary Rohrbacher of the U of K College of Design and graduate students who presented best practices on the 6 livability principles outlined in the new Sustainable Communities partnership between HUD, EPA, and DOT.

The purpose of the conference was to share resources with the attendees to better equip them to be viable competitors for sustainable community funding and to raise awareness of livability principles, which include:

1. Provide more transportation choices.
   Develop safe, reliable and economical transportation choices to decrease household transportation costs, reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote public health.
2. Promote equitable, affordable housing.
   Expand location- and energy-efficient housing choices for people of all ages, incomes, races and ethnicities to increase mobility and lower the combined cost of housing and transportation.
3. Enhance economic competitiveness.
   Improve economic competitiveness through reliable and timely access to employment centers, educational opportunities, services and other basic needs by workers as well as expanded business access to markets.
4. Support existing communities.
   Target federal funding toward existing communities - through such strategies as transit-oriented, mixed-use development and land recycling - to increase community revitalization, improve the efficiency of public works investments, and safeguard rural landscapes.
5. Coordinate policies and leverage investment.
   Align federal policies and funding to remove barriers to collaboration, leverage funding and increase the accountability and effectiveness of all levels of government to plan for future growth, including making smart energy choices such as locally generated renewable energy.
6. Value communities and neighborhoods.
   Enhance the unique characteristics of all communities by investing in healthy, safe and walkable neighborhoods - rural, urban or suburban.

Sustainable Community Livability Principles are closely linked to Smart Growth resources found online. (http://www.smartgrowth.org)

A lady visits the U of K College of Design (http://www.uky.edu/Design/aboutourcollege.html) booth at the Sustainable Communities Workshop. Cards were displayed outlining all components of the workshop.

A participant visits the HUD booth at the Sustainable Communities Workshop to learn more about HOPE VI, Energy Efficient Mortgages, 203(k) rehabilitation mortgages, HUD's new Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities and much more. Find out more at www.hud.gov.

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