EPA Region 7

Communities Information Digest

March 1, 2017
Welcome to the latest EPA Region 7 Digest!
EPA Region 7s Communities Information Digest provides
communities with the latest news about funding technical To s ubscribe or unsubscribe from this
assistance opportunities, webinars, conferences, and other news letter, or to s uggest new content,
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Webinars and Conference Calls

Headlines
National
*National Brownfields Training Conference 2017 Now Accepting Proposals Due March 17
Submit an abstract for Brownfields Conference sessions or presentations. The conference will be held in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 5 -7, 2017.

*Apply for a 2017 Green Power Leadership Award Due March 24

The annual Green Power Leadership Awards are competitive awards that recognize outstanding
commitments and achievements in the green power marketplace. EPAs Green Power Leadership Awards
recognize the countrys leading organizations thatthrough their green power procurement, innovation, and
overall strategyhave helped advance the green power market. The application period for the 2017 Green
Power Leadership Awards will close on March 24.

*Available Resource: Handbook of Drought Indicators and Indices

A partner to the Midwest Climate Hub, the National Drought Mitigation Center, along with the World
Meteorological Organization and the Global Water Partnership, has developed a handbook of Drought
Indicators and Indices. This Handbook of Drought Indicators is based on available literature and draws
findings from relevant works wherever possible.

*Energy Department Announces up to $30 Million for Projects to Integrate Solar into the Nations
Electric Grid
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy SunShot Initiative recently announced up to $30
million in new projects to support the integration of solar energy into the nations electric grid, while
diversifying the nations electricity sources and improving the reliability and security of the electric grid.
SunShot will fund 13 projects with a total of up to $30 million to develop next-generation grid planning and
operation tools that help to integrate more solar power with the grid.

*EPA's State Inventory Tool and Projection Tool Update

EPA is pleased to announce the release of new State Inventory Tool modules. In this update, all modules
were updated with activity data from 1990 through 2014. EPA's State Inventory Tool helps states develop
new greenhouse gas emissions inventories or update existing ones. Apply your own state-specific data or
use pre-loaded default data for each state. The companion Projection Tool uses historic emissions trends
and projected economic and population data to forecast GHG emissions through 2030.

EPA Presidential Environmental Education Awards for Teachers and Students Applications Due
March 1
The award recognizes outstanding K-12 teachers who employ innovative approaches to environmental
education and use the environment as a context for learning. Award winners receive up to $2,500 to
continue their professional development in environmental education. Additionally, the teacher's local
education agency will receive up to $2,500 to fund environmental educational activities and programs.
Youth can receive the Presidential Environmental Youth Award.

Regional

*EPA, Four States Host Radon Stakeholders Meeting March 7 in Manhattan, Kansas
EPA Region 7 and its state partners will host the 11th Annual Region 7 EPA/State Radon Stakeholders
Meeting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 7, 2017, at the Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center, 410
South 3rd St., Manhattan, KS. This meeting is being held at no cost for those who have a stake in
protecting the public from unnecessary exposure to radon in homes, schools and businesses. Agenda items
include Surviving Lung Cancer, Hope for Lung Cancer Patients Progress in Treatment, state and tribal
breakout sessions; updates from state agencies, AARST and EPA; specific discussions about difficult
house remediation situations; and marketing tips/strategies.

*2017 Community Involvement Training Call for Proposals Due March 8

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is in the process of planning the 2017 Community Involvement
Training, Bringing People Together: 20 Years Investing in Communities. This training is being planned for
August 2017 in Kansas City, Mo. At this time, we are requesting proposals for the training. By participating
as a presenter, you can help us achieve our vision to provide an exceptional training that will bring EPA
staff, partners and communities together to learn effective and meaningful public involvement practices.

*Call for Presentations: 2017 Growing Sustainable Communities Conference Due March 19
Submit your application for consideration as a presenter at the 10th Annual Growing Sustainable
Communities Conference, scheduled to be held at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa, on October 3
and 4, 2017. All presentations should include case studies of sustainability focused projects involving
municipal governments, educational or health care institutions, non-profit organizations, and/or high-profile
commercial initiatives that significantly impact local economies, ecologies and/or address issues of
resiliency, social/cultural vibrancy or equity.

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Funding/Technical Assistance Opportunities & Due Dates

EPA Presidential Environmental Education Awards for Teachers and Students March 1

Using a Total Environment Framework (Built, Natural, Social Environments) to Assess Life-long
Health Effects of Chemical Exposures March 2

*USDA Agricultural Education at 1890s Land-grant Institutions March 9

*USDA: Communities Connect Grants March 13

*North Central Region Water Network Impact 2020 Funding & Capacity Building Mini Grants
March 14

*DOE SunShot Prize: Solar in Your Community Challenge March 17

*FTA Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program March 20

*National Park Service Tribal Heritage Grants March 27

*USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Grants March 27

*USDA Local Food Promotion Program March 27

*USDA Rural Energy for America Program March 31

*USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program April 21

Ongoing Opportunities
USDA Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Program Grants

River Network National Rain Barrel Program Through June 2017

POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Grants
Applications accepted on a rolling basis

Tribal Climate Change Funding Guide Regularly updated grants and programs

EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program

USDA Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Local USDA Service Center

American Planning Association Community Planning Assistance Teams

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Meetings, Conferences, & Events

Climate Leadership Conference March 1-3, Chicago, IL
*EPA Region 7 Radon Stakeholders Meeting March 7, Manhattan, KS
RemTEC March 7-9, Denver, CO
*2017 Spring Stormwater Symposium March 8, Omaha, NE
National Environmental Justice Conference and Training Program March 8-10, Washington, D.C.
*Riparian Health and Restoration Workshop March 15, Kansas City, MO
*Midwest Workshop - Adapting Forested Watersheds to Climate Change March 15-16, Minocqua, WI
*Solar Power Finance & Investment Summit March 21-23, San Diego, CA
11th Annual Iowa Water Conference March 22-23, Ames, IA
*Coal Combustion Residuals Conference & Coal Ash Landfill Management Course March 28-29 &
30-31, Atlanta, GA
*2017 LOCUS Leadership Summit April 24-25, Washington, D.C.
ASFPM National Conference April 30-May 5, Kansas City, MO
15th Annual Climate Prediction Applications Science Workshop (CPASW) May 2-4, Anchorage, AK

APA National Planning Conference May 6-9, New York, NY

International Trails Symposium May 7-10, Dayton, OH
National Adaptation Forum May 9-11, St Paul, MN
2017 International Conference on Ecology and Transportation May 14-18, Lake City, UT
 *Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Green Infrastructure Conference May 31- June 2, Detroit, MI
*American Water Resources Association Summer Specialty Conference June 25-28, Tysons, VA
*Native Youth Community Adaptation and Leadership Congress July 9-15, Shepherdstown, WV
*Earth Educators Rendezvous July 17-21, Albuquerque, NM
*2017 Community Involvement Training August, Kansas City, MO
California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) 2017 Conference August 20-23, San Diego, CA
*2017 Growing Sustainable Communities Conference October 3-4, Dubuque, IA
2017 National Brownfields Training Conference December 5-7, Pittsburgh, PA

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Webinars and Conference Calls

*CDFA Brownfields Financing Webinar: Financing Brownfields with Private Activity Bonds (PABs)
March 9, 1-2:30 p.m. (CST)
Join CDFA, our technical assistance partners, and experienced brownfield communities as we discuss Private
Activity Bonds and how they can be used to compliment the redevelopment and cleanup of your brownfield
project.

*USDA Soil Health Economics: A Farmer's Perspective Webinar March 14, 2017, 1 p.m. (CST)
Rodney Rulon farms 5,800 acres of corn and soybeans in central Indiana. A long time no-tiller (1989), he has
added cover crops, nutrient and pest management, and subsurface drainage to complete his soil health
management system. In this webinar Rodney will present both economic and soil health data from his on-farm
studies as he as implemented his system.

On-Going and On-Demand Webinars

Leveraging Resources for Brownfields Revitalization Webinar
This webinar discusses available tools to assist communities in leveraging resources to address community
revitalization goals and challenges, including a presentation on Dubuques, Iowa, efforts to leverage its own
resources to attract other federal, state, public and private sources of funding and technical assistance.

EPA Computer Training Helps Water and Wastewater Utilities Build Resilience
The training covers several topics including: identifying and funding potential hazard mitigation projects,
developing and updating an Emergency Response Plan, coordinating mutual aid and assistance during
emergencies, conducting damage assessments, and many more.

EPA Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments 10-Part Webinar Series

Student Curriculum: Recipes for Healthy Kids, and a Healthy Environment. Each 45-minute lesson empowers
kids to take steps in their everyday lives to improve the environment for their communities and reduce their
environmental risk.

LeanPath presents: Five Food Waste Myths to Debunk Now!

This webinar will explore five myths about food waste and the facts you need to debunk them in your kitchen.

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This digest is being provided by EPA Region 7 for informational purposes only.
This digest contains links to information, agencies, sites, and organizations outside of the EPA website.
EPA is not responsible for third party links. EPA does not endorse third party organizations or agencies.