US ERA'S
GREEN COMMUNITIES
PROGRAM
PARTICIPATING
COMMUNITY
APPLICATION
US EPA REGION III
I 65O ARCH ST
PHILADELPHIA, PA I 9 I O3
APRIL I 999
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v US EPA's GREEN COMMUNITIES PROGRAM^
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WHAT DOES EPA MEAN BY A
"GREEN COMMUNITY" ?
WHY DID EPA DEVELOP THE
"GREEN COMMUNITIES" PROGRAM ?
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS TO A
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATING IN THE
"GREEN COMMUNITIES" PROGRAM?
How To APPLY TO BECOME A
"GREEN COMMUNITY"
How YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE EVALUATED
How You WILL BE NOTIFIED OF EPA's
DECISION
5 APPLICATION
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Y\JS EPA's GREEN COMMUNITIES PROGRAM
WHAT DOES EPA MEAN BY A
"GREEN COMMUNITY" ?
A Green Community is one which is working towards a sustainable future — a healthy environment,
a strong economy, and a high quality of life for all its citizens. A sustainable community ensures its
future by:
1) performing a community assessment
2) analyzing its trends
3) envisioning what it wants to be like in the future
4) developing action plans, and
5) then implementing its plans
Green Communities seek continuous improvement. Problems and solutions are viewed in a holistic
way rather than on a project by project or issue by issue basis.
EPA's Green Communities Program is a voluntary program. Green Communities' goal is to encour-
age communities to build sustainable futures, incorporating environmental, economic and social
considerations into planning and implementation activities. Committing to becoming a Green
Community does not add new regulatory requirements or oversight by EPA. A Green Community
does, however, strive to comply with all environmental regulations, promote economic equity, and
actively involve citizens from all sectors of the community: local officials, business, industry, citizens,
civic organizations, and more.
To be designated as a Green Community, a community must have completed the community
assessment process, a trends analysis, a vision statement, developed sustainable action plans and
have begun implementing actions that have been identified.
To help communities achieve these goals, EPA developed the Green Communities Assistance Kit,
an Internet-based kit located at url: http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/. This web site provides a planning
approach and a variety of tools and information that will help guide a community through the Green
Communities process.
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7 US EPA's GREEN COMMUNITIES PROGRAM \
WHY DID EPA DEVELOP THE
COMMUNITIES'' PROGRAM ?J
The Program was developed to:
1) educate communities (officials and citizens) in the concept of sustainability, and
2) act as an incentive to communities to do more than they might otherwise
It is expected that there will be broad stakeholder involvement throughout the process; and that the
community will approach sustainability holistically, taking into account environmental, social, and
economic issues.
Past accomplishments can be used to apply for designation as a participating Green Community.
Designation, however, is not forever. A community will need to reapply every two years and show
that they are making significant progress in achieving their goals in order to maintain their designa-
tion.
fWHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS 1
TO A COMMUNITY OF
PARTICIPATING IN THE
"GREEN COMMUNITIES" PROGRAM?
1. Prior to Designation
*Training by EPA on the use of the Green Communities Assistance Kit
*EPA and/or its partners will offer recommendations and highlight others' successful
approaches that can be adapted to your community's particular needs
2. At Designation
*A joint Community-EPA press release (increased visibility for your local
sustainability initiatives)
*A Green Communities certificate signed by the EPA Regional Administrator
*A highway-approved city limit or town center sign that reads, "Your Community, A
Participating Green Community, in cooperation with US EPA and other sponsors"
*Your Success Story included in the Green Communities Assistance Kit
3. On-Going Benefits
Opportunities to learn through networking with others pursuing sustainability
*Timely information about EPA grant funds that could help support your
sustainability efforts
*Status that can serve to leverage additional support and resources
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US EPA's GREEN COMMUNITIES PROGRAM
How To APPLY TO BECOME A
"GREEN COMMUNITY" A
Who's eligible -
Any community in the United States that is working towards sustainability. Accom-
plishments from the past ten years (prior to application) count, too. A community
might be a watershed, a municipality, a neighborhood. A Green Community is one
that works together to achieve greater environmental protection, economic vitality
and social well-being.
Deadlines -
There are none. Apply when you are ready. Applications will be accepted at any
time.
Application fee -
It's free!
What to send in -
See attached application checklist (also available on the Internet at: www.epa.gov/
greenkit/apply.htm)
Where to send it -
Susan McDowell (3ES10)
Green Communities Program
US EPA Region III
1650 Arch St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
215-814-2739 (voice)
215-814-2783 (fax)
mcdowell.susan@epa.gov
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y~(JS EPA's GREEN COMMUNITIES PROGRAM
How YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE
^EVALUATED x
Each completed application will be reviewed by EPA staff and at least one external Green Commu-
nities partner. Designation as a Participating Green Community will be based on the following
criteria:
A. Your community must have completed at a minimum:
*A Community Assessment (Community Profile)
[refer to http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/wher_int.htm]
*A Trends Analysis (Trends Statement)
[refer to http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/2intro.htm]
*A Visioning Process (Vision Statement)
[refer to http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/3intro.htm]
*Action Plans
[refer to http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/4intro.htm]
And, your community will have enacted some of the priority actions identified in your plans.
However, it is not necessary for all of the activities in the Action Plans to have been com-
pleted in order to receive the designation.
B. There is broad stakeholder involvement including citizens and representatives from local
government, business, industry, etc.
C. Your efforts look holistically at environmental, economic and social issues.
D. You have formed partnerships and are leveraging resources to sustain your efforts.
E. There is long-term viability and commitment to sustainability.
F. You have built in incremental successes.
G. You are measuring your progress.
EPA may request additional information and may visit your community prior to making a decision.
How You WILL BE NOTIFIED OF
ERA'S DECISION
Once a decision has been reached, you will be notified by mail and by phone. If your community is
not accepted, reasons will be given, and you will have the opportunity to reapply at a later time. If
your community is accepted, EPA and the community will choose a date and place for the award
ceremony.
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EPA's GREEN COMMUNITIES PROGRAM
APPLICATION
^
J
Application Checklist
Part I: Community Information
Part II: Accomplishments & Plans (Include Documentation)
One-Page Summary
Community Assessment (Where Are We Now ?)
Trends Analysis (Where Are We Going ?)
Vision Statement (Where Do We Want to Be ?)
Action Plans (How Do We Get There ?)
Implementation Activities (Let's Go !)
Part III: Green Communities Pledge
Part IV: Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation from at least three local community-based organizations (a
minimum of one environmental, one economic, and one civic organization).
SEND YOUR COMPLETED
Susan McDowell (3ES10)
Green Communities Program
US EPA Region III
1650 Arch St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
215-814-2739 (voice)
215-814-2783 (fax)
mcdowell.susan@epa.gov
APPLICATION TO:
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US EPA's GREEN COMMUNITIES APPLICATION \\
PART I: COMMUNITY INFORMATION II
Name of Applicant (municipality, watershed, neighborhood/town)
US EPA's GREEN COMMUNITIES APPLICATION
First Contact Person
Second Contact Person
(if applicable)
Name:
Title:
Address:
Phone: -
Fax:
E-Mail: .
Web Site:.
Briefly Describe Your Community (geographic boundaries, size, population,
character, etc.). Include a map if available.
List Local Media (newspapers, radio & TV stations):
: ACCOMPLISHMENTS 5* PLANS
Attach a One-Page Summary of Your Accomplishments & Plans. Then
complete the checklist below. Please enclose documentation of your ac-
tions (newspaper articles, a copy of your Vision Statement, etc.) and infor-
mation on stakeholder participation, your use of sustainable indicators,
and your use of the Green Communities Assistance Kit.
1. Community Assessment / Profile (Where Are We Now ?)
Identifying the assets and liabilities that exist in your community is a good
first step in determining what future actions need to be taken to protect
and enhance your community's resources. Your community will have a
wealth of information in various locations that can help to create a picture.
Inventories are key components of an assessment. Don't forget to inven-
tory key public and private policies, regulations, and activities that may
support or contradict future sustainable actions.
As documentation, enclose a copy of your community assessment report,
newspaper articles, and other pertinent materials.
Possible Actions Taken
Identified information and data sources and people in the community that
can contribute to the inventory of existing conditions.
Held a workshop or other public forum to solicit knowledge and views
from community members.
Inventoried natural, cultural and economic resources (at a minimum) based
on existing information.
Mapped resources to reflect current conditions.
Provided public access to the final Community Assessment via appropri-
ate media (libraries, newspaper, radio, community groups, public places,
etc.).
Other
Refer to: http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/wher_int.htm
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US EPA's GREEN COMMUNITIES APPLICATION
PART II: ACCOMPLISHMENTS 5* PLANS
Analysis (Where Are We Going ? )
A community will benefit from evaluating current trends in environmental
quality, economic viability, and social well-being, and projecting them into
the future. This is a common tool of planning organizations. The result of
such an analysis, a Trends Statement, can help pinpoint those trends that
are unsustainable: those that in the long run will lead to increased envi-
ronmental degradation, increased consumption of land by inappropriate
development, the decline of local economies, and a lower quality of life.
Likewise, the Trends Analysis can indicate ways in which the community
is already moving towards sustainability.
As documentation, enclose a copy of your community's trends statement,
newspaper articles, and other pertinent materials.
Possible Actions Taken
Projected trends in the economy (number of vacant storefronts, % of citi-
zens receiving public assistance, number of high-end technical jobs, etc.).
Projected trends in natural resource conservation and use (acres of wet-
lands, open space, water quantity and quality, etc.).
Projected social trends (education, housing, health, etc.)
Communicated results of the Trends Analysis to the community at large
and solicited feedback.
Identified potential sustainability indicators to monitor based on the Trends
Analysis.
Other
Refer to: http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/2intro.htm
13. Vision Statement (Where Do We Want to Be ?)
The visioning process is a means for a community to envision its future —
a future that reflects the values, aspirations and long-term commitments
to restore and protect environmental, economic, and social assets now
and into the future. Visioning, an inclusive process, gives community
members the opportunity to answer the question, "Where do we want to
be?" Through visioning, preferred scenarios are developed as a means of
illustration. Green Communities' visions consider and respect the
community's diversity and strive to improve the quality of life for all citi-
zens, while protecting the environment, and strengthening the local
economy. Indicators which will be used during implementation to mea-
sure the success of actions are further refined.
As documentation, enclose a copy of your community's vision statement
and potential indicators, newspaper articles, and other pertinent materi-
als.
Possible Actions Taken
| Designed and implemented a public outreach process to gather views
from citizens on their visions for the community's future.
| Identified, illustrated, and presented to the community possible scenarios
of the community's future (more than one scenario often helps to focus on
particular themes or trends that need to be redirected).
| Developed a consensus-based Vision Statement.
| Refined sustainability indicators.
| Other:
Refer to: http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/3intro.htm
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US EPA's GREEN COMMUNITIES APPLICATION
: ACCOMPLISHMENTS 5* PLANS
|34TINAction Plans (How Do We Get There ?)
Once a Vision has been developed, an action plan highlighting activities
which need to be taken to achieve the vision can be designed. Many com-
munities, in fact, will develop more than one action plan, with each plan
addressing a specific facet of the community. For instance, there might
be an action plan dealing with transportation, another dealing with historic
preservation, and another dealing with waste management. The catego-
ries will vary according to the community's needs. When developing ac-
tion plans, a community should keep in mind the question: Does this activ-
ity move us toward our vision and does it represent a sustainable solution
to the issues identified? Green Communities seek innovative solutions to
problems and engage the diversity of ideas, expertise, energy, and skills
represented in the community. Bringing together a diverse group of people
to recommend needed actions will lead to more balanced and thoughtful
approaches for achieving the community's vision. Priorities for each ac-
tion should also be considered and the group should factor in risk, the
need for and the availability of funding, needed technical resources, and/
or adequate local policies and regulations. Each action plan should in-
clude the expected resources needed to implement each action and indi-
cators to measure progress.
As documentation, enclose a copy of your community's action plan(s),
newspaper articles, and other pertinent materials.
Possible Actions Taken
] Designed and implemented a process to solicit ideas and recommenda-
tions from a broad cross-section of community members on actions that
need to be taken and the tools to use.
] Discovered innovative approaches used by other communities that faced
similar challenges.
] Forged partnerships and leveraged resources.
Finalized measures of success / indicators that will track the commitments
identified and keep the community moving toward its vision.
Developed action plans that reflect the vision; may include actions to:
Prevent pollution and promote resource reuse and recycling
Protect sensitive areas including floodplains, wetlands, steep
slopes, stream buffers, and living resource habitats
Direct growth and development to suitable areas
Protect water quality
Protect air quality
Promote transportation efficiency and diversity
Create economic opportunities in harmony with needs and envi-
ronmental values
Reach put to citizens on a continuing basis to encourage volun-
tary actions consistent with the vision statement
Work cooperatively with other governments, and public and pri-
vate organizations to encourage actions consistent with the plans
Identified the necessary resources need to implement tasks in the action
plans including:
Funding
Personnel & Organizational Structure
Technical Assistance
Technologies
Other Resources (specify)
Established a timetable for implementation of the action plans
Built incremental successes into the action plans
Other
Refer to: http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/4intro.htm
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US EPA's GREEN COMMUNITIES APPLICATION
PART II: ACCOMPLISHMENTS 5* PLANS
Action Plans (Let's Go !)
Completed
In Progress
A Green Community thrives on sustainable actions. The action plans that
have been developed require careful community-based stewardship and
shepherding in orderto be successfully implemented. As actions are com-
pleted, Green Communities continue to revisit the Vision and periodically
re-initiate a stakeholder process to refine or revise the Vision's goals and
action plans in response to new conditions, new technologies, and new
innovations. Successful completion of activities are celebrated by all.
As documentation, enclose a list of activities completed along with news-
paper articles and other pertinent materials which verify the completion of
activities laid out in the action plans.
Possible Actions Taken
Secured the necessary resources needed to implement tasks in one or
more action plans.
Utilized some / all of the following principles in implementing one or more
action plans (adapted from "Economic Development forthe 21st Century:
A Set of Principles," Copyright 1997, Local Government Commission, Sac-
ramento, CA):
Integrated Approach (partnerships)
Vision and Inclusion (community goal setting with broad commu-
nity involvement)
Poverty Reduction (social equity)
Retention Focus (keeping jobs and people in the community; con-
sider local assets) A
Local Focus (think globally, act locally)
Wired Communities (access to state-of-the-art communication
technologies)
Industry Clusters (compatible industries, eco-industrial parks, etc.)
Long-term Investment (public investment and financial partner-
ships)
Human Investment (access to training, educational opportunities/
day and elder care)
Corporate Responsibility (working in concert with community goals)
Environmental Ethic (consider future generations)
Smart Growth (avoid sprawl and invest in existing communities)
Compact Development (conserve open space)
Center Focus (keep business/downtown districts economically and
socially viable)
Distinctive Community Identity (a sense of place)
Regional Collaboration (plan regionally; implement locally)
| Tracked measures of success /sustainability indicators.
| Revisited the Vision Statement.
| Updated the action plans.
| Other
Refer to: http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/5intro.htm
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US EPA's GREEN COMMUNITIES APPLICATION
PART
GREEN COMMUNITIES PLEDGE
Every Green Community must agree to a few simple terms. If you have
read and agree to the following, please fill in your community's name,
mark each box with an "X" and sign at the bottom.
We, the community of.
we:
pledge that
community's name
state
understand that continued participation in the Green Communities Des-
ignation Program is contingent upon showing substantial progress in
implementing our community action plans,
agree to strive for full compliance with all regulations promulgated by US
EPA, the state and/or local jurisdictions,
agree to promote the Green Communities Program and to share our
success stories with other communities through the Green Communities
Assistance Kit (web site), and
understand that progress reports must be submitted to the Green Com-
munities Program every two years if renewal is desired.
signature of 1st contact person title date
signature of 2nd contact person
(if applicable)
title
date
signature of 3rd contact person
(if applicable)
title
date
signature of 4th contact person
(if applicable)
title
date
US EPA's GREEN COMMUNITIES APPLICATION
PART IV: LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Attach letters of recommendation from at least three local community-based
organizations (a minimum of one environmental, one economic, and one civic
organization).
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