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Local governments that could use training in reaching sustainability and smart-growth targets have an opportunity to receive free help from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA contractors will travel to 20 communities between March and June to conduct one-day educational sessions on sustainability measurement tools, including:

• Parking audits
• Walking audits
• Sustainable land-use code audits
• Smart growth zoning codes for small cities and rural areas
• Commuter benefits
• Using smart growth to produce fiscal and economic health
• Complete streets
• Climate action planning

During the site visits, the EPA contractors will provide technical assistance on the measurement tools. As a follow-up, the contractors will provide brief memos outlining the next recommended steps for the communities.

The EPA's Sustainable Communities Building Blocks Program is sponsoring the training initiative. The program's goal is to "help selected local and/or tribal governments to implement development approaches that protect the environment, improve public health, create jobs, expand economic opportunity, and improve overall quality of life."

Communities that would like to receive technical assistance through the program should send letters of interest up to two pages in length to the EPA. In the letters, applicants should identify the one measurement tool for which the community seeks assistance.

Letters of interest must be submitted via email to Kevin Nelson no later than Feb. 23, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. For questions about the EPA training solicitation, contact Kevin Nelson (202-566-2835, nelson.kevin@epa.gov).

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