EPA accepting applications for the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting applications for the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program. The program provides quick, targeted technical assistance to selected communities to help them achieve their desired development goals, improve quality of life and become more economically and environmentally sustainable. Eligible applicants include local, county, state, territorial or tribal government, or a nonprofit organization that has the support of the local government on whose behalf it is applying. The deadline to apply is November 20 by 5:00 p.m. ET. To learn how to apply, click here.

This round of Building Blocks will offer a more flexible approach that leverages EPA staff expertise, facilitates rapid learning and exchange and focuses on emerging challenges communities face related to land use planning and development. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program will not rely on in-person workshops. Potential areas of technical assistance include, but not limited to:

Counties play an essential role in building sustainable and resilient communities. Hurricanes, wildfires, economic collapse and other disasters can be natural or man-made, acute or long-term, foreseeable or unpredictable. Preparation for and recovery from such events requires both long-term planning and immediate action. Through the Resilient Counties Initiative, NACo works to strengthen county resiliency by building leadership capacity to identify and manage risk and allow counties to become more flexible and responsive.