Rural Communities Encouraged to Apply for Revitalization Planning Assistance

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites rural communities to apply for planning assistance to develop strategies that help grow the economy and revitalize downtown neighborhoods.

EPA is offering this assistance as part of Rural Advantage, a suite of federal economic development planning assistance programs for rural communities.

“Rural Advantage is helping communities reinvent themselves in ways that are good for the economy and the environment,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “We are excited to partner with communities that want to use their unique rural assets to create a brighter, healthier future.”

Communities may apply for assistance through the following programs:

• Local Foods, Local Places (LFLP), which helps communities leverage local food enterprise to diversify their economy and renew their downtowns.
• Cool & Connected, which helps communities use broadband service to create walkable, connected, economically successful neighborhoods.
• Healthy Places for Healthy People, a new program that will help communities partner with health care facilities to catalyze downtown revitalization and to improve options for healthy living and economic opportunity.

Working with federal partners, EPA will select 30 or more communities for assistance through a competitive process. Communities may apply by submitting letters of interest by Nov. 6. To submit an application, see epa.gov/smartgrowth
.