GLIN==> Northeast-Midwest Weekly Update -- 18 May 2009

Weekly Update
18 May 2009
 
*	New Upper Mississippi River Basin Newsletter
*	Great Lakes Restoration Funding Letter
*	Letter Supports the Community Development Block Grant Program
*	Letter Supports Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy (EERE)
Programs
*	Job Opening:  Director of Finance and Operations/Project Manager
*	Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference
 
 
New Upper Mississippi River Basin Newsletter
 
The inaugural May issue of the Upper Mississippi River Basin Update
<http://www.nemw.org/2009-05%20Upper%20Mississippi%20River%20Basin%20New
sletter.pdf>  is now available on the Northeast-Midwest Institute
website.  The Updates aim to provide timely reports on legislative and
policy information, and other news relevant to conservation and
restoration efforts in the Upper Mississippi River Basin region.
Numerous links are provided to Northeast-Midwest issue papers as well as
other Internet-based resources.  Updates will be augmented with email
reports as newsworthy events occur, including movement on legislation or
appropriations, and news from the region.
 
This issue includes the sections Legislative Updates, Budget and
Appropriation Updates, and Other News and Notes (news on water research
and biomass energy, and an organic farming grant opportunity).
 
Contact Mark Gorman
<mailto:mgorman at nemw.org?subject=Upper%20Mississippi%20River%20Basin%20U
pdates>  (202/464-4015) to receive future Update announcements and
interim reports.
 
 
Analysis:  Brownfields and the Obama Budget 
The president's budget proposes to increase funding for the EPA
Brownfields Program by $8.9 million, or 5.4 percent, relative to the
fiscal 2009 enacted budget.  When corrected for inflation, the proposed
EPA Brownfields budget is still seven percent lower than the 2003
appropriation (see analysis of the President's Fiscal 2010 Budget
Request <http://www.nemw.org/FY2010_Budget_Analysis.pdf> ).
The Administration proposes to eliminate the HUD Brownfields Economic
Development Initiative (BEDI), and the HUD 108 program is "zeroed," with
a notation that it will be replaced by a program that will not require a
subsidy.  HUD 108 is frequently used by cities to close gaps on
brownfields projects.  The HUD budget boosts CDBG funding and proposes
establishing a Sustainable Communities Initiative to "stimulate improved
regional planning efforts that integrate housing and transportation
decisions, and to challenge communities to reform zoning and land use
ordinances."  The Northeast-Midwest Institute has posted historical
tables and charts
<http://www.nemw.org/EPA_HUDHistoricProposedBrownfieldsFunding.pdf>  for
the EPA and HUD brownfields programs.
 
Contact Evans Paull
<mailto:epaull at nemw.org?subject=Analysis:%20%20Brownfields%20and%20the%2
0Obama%20Budget>  (202/464-4004) at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
 
 
Great Lakes Restoration Funding Letter
 
The House Great Lakes Task Force is circulating a letter in support of
including the Administration's proposed $475 million Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative in the Interior-Environment Appropriations bill.
This is a new budget initiative, but the funding will support many of
the existing Great Lakes programs as well as competitive grants.  The
deadline for House Members to sign the letter is Thursday, May 21.
 
Contact Joy Mulinex
<mailto:joy_mulinex at levin.senate.gov?subject=Great%20Lakes%20Restoration
%20Funding%20Letter>  (202/224-1211) at the Great Lakes Task Force.
 
 
Letter Supports the Community Development Block Grant Program
 
Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) are sending a
letter to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee requesting funding for the
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.
 
The letter requests $4.185 billion in CDBG formula funding.  The CDBG
Program is the centerpiece of the Federal government's efforts to help
states and localities meet the needs of low-income communities.  CDBG
funds vital housing rehabilitation, supportive services, public
improvements, and economic development projects in communities across
the nation.  It serves more than 1,100 entitlement communities, urban
counties and states, and more than 3,000 rural communities.  The
deadline for signing the letter is close of business Wednesday, May 20.
 
Contact Chris Hickling
<mailto:chris_hickling at reed.senate.gov?subject=CDBG%20Letter>
(202/224-0606) at the Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition.
 
 
Letter Supports Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy (EERE) Programs
 
Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), and Jeff Bingaman
(D-NM) are circulating a letter to the Energy and Water Development
Appropriations Subcommittee.  The letter requests appropriations for
critical energy efficiency and renewable energy programs in the fiscal
2010 appropriations bill.
 
Congress has recognized the importance of energy efficiency and
renewable energy in the reduction of energy costs, greenhouse gas
emissions, and creation of green jobs with sufficient pay.  The American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) made significant investments that
have allowed cities and states to move forward with projects that will
produce energy savings for years to come.
 
The Reed-Snowe-Bingaman letter seeks to build upon these investments
through the regular appropriations process, and specifically requests
$1.05 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program, $125 million
for  the State Energy Program, $150 million for the Industrial
Technologies Program, $237 million for the Building Technologies
Program, and $145 million for the Energy Information Administration.
The deadline for signing the letter is close of business Thursday, May
21.
 
Contact Chris Hickling
<mailto:chris_hickling at reed.senate.gov?subject=EERE%20Letters>
(202/224-0606) at the Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition.
 
 
Job Opening:  Director of Finance and Operations/Project Manager
 
The Northeast-Midwest Institute, a small, private, nonprofit public
policy research organization located in Washington, DC, seeks an
energetic, full-time employee to oversee and manage the financial
accounting and operations systems for the Northeast-Midwest Institute
<http://www.nemw.org/> .  In addition, this position will be responsible
for administrative/financial reporting tasks associated with the
Institute's Great Ships Initiative
<http://www.greatshipsinitiative.org/>  program.  These two distinct
roles will require the successful candidate to report to two different
Institute directors - the Executive Director and the Director,
Environmental Projects.  Click here <http://www.nemw.org/JobFinance.pdf>
for a detailed job description.
 
 
Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference
 
On June 1-3, the National Vacant Properties Campaign
<http://www.vacantproperties.org/> , with principal planning partners
the Metro Louisville Government <http://www.louisvilleky.gov/>  and the 
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
<http://www.stlouisfed.org/default.cfm> , are sponsoring the Reclaiming
Vacant Properties:  Building Leadership to Restore Communities
conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
 
With the rising number of foreclosures, blight from vacant properties
confronts communities across the country, and severely threatens
neighborhood stability.  Cities of all shapes and sizes are searching
for innovative, cost effective strategies to abate these public
nuisances, and transform vacant properties into catalysts for
revitalization.  The conference offers an opportunity to share
successful programs and projects taking place across the country, and
discuss new initiatives to change federal and state policies that affect
our cities and towns.  Click here
<http://reclaimingvacantproperties.org/>  to register for the
conference.
 
Contact Jennifer Leonard
<mailto:jleonard at smartgrowthamerica.org?subject=Louisville%20Conference>
(202/207-3355 x23) at the National Vacant Properties Campaign.
 
 
Calendar <http://www.nemw.org/calendar.htm>  | Media Links
<http://www.nemw.org/media.htm>  | Reports/Periodicals
<http://www.nemw.org/reports.htm> 
 
Northeast-Midwest Institute <http://www.nemw.org/> 
50 F Street NW Suite 950
Washington DC 20001
202.544.5200
 
Email Glenn Starnes <mailto:glennstarnes at nemw.org?subject=Unsubscribe>
with comments or to unsubscribe from this mailing list.
 
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