Your Town Alabama: Designing Our Future

NEMO -Alabama: Training in NonPoint Water Quality Issues

October 26, 2006. Alabama NEMO Program To be held at the Department of Environmental Management in Montgomery Alabama. For more information and to reserve your spot, contact Patti Hurley (334) 394-4350. Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) is an education program that addresses water quality through land use and natural resource planning.  Specifically, NEMO is focused on the explanation of nonpoint sources and their link to different land uses. Particular attention is paid to the role of impervious, or paved, surfaces in the transport and concentration of pollutants. To guide towns, NEMO outlines a three-tiered strategy of natural resource-based planning, site design, and the use of stormwater best management practices that towns can use to address their land use and cope with nonpoint source pollution. NEMO began in 1991 as a pilot project to design and test a new way of presenting information to three coastal communities in Connecticut. The technical nature of the program was designed around the intended audience of engineers, planners, and commissioners--all decision-makers within the towns. Since then, NEMO has continued to give presentations by request across the state and is presently being implemented in 17 other states. click here for more information, to download the registration form, or to view the agenda.

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Facade Improvement Programs, an Introduction

Façade Improvement Programs are a way for Cities to encourage businesses along their Main Street to improve the outside appearance of their buildings.  Usually done in conjunction with a downtown revitalization initiative, the City offers a grant to the building owner to pay a portion of improvement costs.  This creates a win-win project for both the building owner, in the form of monetary assistance, and the City, who is banking on increased tax revenue due to revitalization. Grant applications and qualifications may be designed by the City and exist in a myriad number of options, depending upon the goals of the City.  For more information, search the web for [ “façade improvement” +grant ].   As you will soon discover, there are a number of Cities utilizing this redevelopment tool. Of course, not every program is good--use your judgement and remember that destroying the character of your community in order to make it look "more acceptable" isn't a sustainable way to preserve the qualities that make you unique! That being said, these programs can and do make a huge difference in communities across the country.

Common requirements include:

• That the building design meet some type of design standard (i.e. art deco, 1950’s, German.)  This is usually determined by the revitalization plan based on the goal of the community and/or the element that they wish to preserve.
• That the improvement be visible from the Main Street.
• That the property owner match the grant (50/50, 80/20, 60/40.)
• The grant must be approved before the work is done.

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Mississippi-Alabama Rural Tourism Conference

Sept. 18 and 19 in Tupelo, MS. The sixth annual Mississippi-Alabama Rural Tourism Conference will be Sept. 18 and 19 at the Quality Inn in Tupelo, Miss. Each year the conference rotates between western Alabama and eastern Mississippi. The focus is always on helping Mississippi and Alabama communities capitalize on tourism opportunities. Click here for the registration form and brochure.

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More Events Around Alabama

Sept 19, 2006. Byways Around Alabama. Montgomery, AL. The Alabama Scenic Byway Program seeks to identify, preserve, protect and enhance scenic, historic, natural, recreational, cultural and archaeological resources; enhance recreation; and, promote economic development through tourism and education in the history, culture and natural beauty of Alabama. Alabama’s Scenic Byway Program was established in 2000 by an act of the State Legislature. Learn all that has been done since that time and help make plans for the future. Representatives from all of Alabama’s recognized Scenic Byways will be on hand to discuss their byway, where they are in their development and where they plan to go. To gain a better understanding of the value of Scenic Byways, please plan on attending or sending a representative. For information and to reserve a space, please call 205.930.9142.

And Regional Events: We've had a great response to our request for events taking place in Alabama's many communities. Many of the events submitted have been included in our calendar of events. A selection of these events can be found at the link below. You can also view just the regional events that are in our calendar (for the next 3 months) by clicking here. If you would like to submit your event to us, please send it to info@yourtownalabama.org. Although we didn't add all the events submitted to our online calendar (there are so many things going on around our great state that it would have just been too big to handle) we did add some. To see a larger listing of events that were submitted electronically, you can click here. If you are in the neigbhorhood, be sure to stop by and support these communities. If you can't make it, take their ideas and come up with some new and exciting events for your community!.

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University of North Alabama: Alabama Planning Institute Announces Fall Schedule

Registration is now underway! Become a "Certified Alabama Planning and Zoning Official" in September or October! Continuing Studies and Outreach will offer the following courses during September and October for: Local Planning Commissioners, Board of Adjustment Members, Mayors, City Council Members, Zoning & Building Staff, County Commissions, County Administrators, County Engineers, City & County Attorneys, and anyone involved in local growth issues. Join us in Montgomery or Fultondale! A registration form is included in this email for your convenience. Please share with others who may be interested in attending. Contact us if you need a progress report on the courses you may have already completed.

Registration fees include all course materials, a certificate of completion, refreshments, and a light lunch. You will want to order the Home Study course right away and complete it before the last class if you are interested in becoming certified this year! Click here for the brochure (Adobe pdf file).

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Preservation Conference 2006 Alabama Preservation Conference Birmingham, AL | October 12-14, 2006 Alabama's historic places and the landscapes around them are woven into the fabric of our communities and our lives.  These buildings, monuments, parks and homes make up a rich heritage that continues to create new generations of preservationists. Join us in Birmingham as we celebrate two important preservation anniversaries and explore ways to protect Alabama's private places and public spaces. Birmingham at the Tutwiler Hotel, 2021 Park Place North. "A Heritage So Rich: Exploring Public Spaces / Private Places" features Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Meet Mr. Moe at tonight's opening reception. Registration required. Sponsored by the Alabama Historical Commission, Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation, Black Heritage Council, and Birmingham Historical Society. (334) 834-2727	Connections between economic development and smart growthIEDC's recently released "Economic Development and Smart Growth" highlights the connections between smart growth and economic outcomes such as job growth, occupancy rates, tax base, and private investment. The report, supported with funding from EPA, uses detailed case studies to illustrate economic outcomes in places that have incorporated smart growth development strategies.  The case studies profile diverse projects in Lakewood, Colorado; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;  Paducah, Kentucky; Indianapolis, Indiana; Portland, Oregon; Burlington, Iowa; Silver Spring, MD; and Columbus, Ohio. Download the PDF of this report at: http://www.iedconline.org/Downloads/Smart_Growth.pdf
Grants, Grants, and More Grants What follows is a listing of quite a few grant opportunities. Some apply directly to communities; others may apply indirectly. From wetlands conservation to grants from "Bikes Belong", there is something here for many to consider. December 1, 2006. North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Small Grants Program.   Projects may include wetland acquisition, restoration or enhancement. Priority is given to those partnerhips who have never participated in NAWCA.  Those interested in submitting a proposal are encouraged to contact their respective Joint Venture Coordinator to discuss the potential project (Atlantic Coast Joint Venture Coordinator Craig Watson 843 727-4707 x16; Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture Coordinator Charles Baxter 601 629-6600 x600 or Bill Uihlein 601 629-6619 x 619; Other Areas throughout the Southeast –Dean Demarest 404 679-7371).  All projects have matching fund requirements of a minimum of 1:1 match (1 federal dollar to 1 non-federal dollar) and grants may range up to $50K. http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/index.shtml more>>>	Excessive Heat Events GuidebookThe Environmental Protection Agency has produced the Excessive Heat Events Guidebook.  The Guidebook is designed to help officials plan for and respond to excessive heat events.  It highlights best practices that have been employed to save lives during excessive heat events in different urban areas and provides a menu of options that officials can use to respond to these events in their communities. As a quick reference resource, the Excessive Heat Events Guidebook in brief offers summary information and tips that can be used when preparing for and responding to excessive heat.  The guidebook and "in-brief" companion piece can both be downloaded at http://epa.gov/heatisland/about/heatguidebook.html. For additional information about the links between heat, health, and the environment, visit http://epa.gov/heatisland/about/healthenv.html.
Web Resources for Planning and Community Developmenthttp://www.biodiversitypartners.org/pubs/landuse/01.shtml Integrating Land Use Planning and Biodiversity: Many planners understand the importance of the natural environment to their communities' quality of life, and realize that their decisions can affect human society and wildlife habitats far into the future. A new report from Defenders of Wildlife attempts to draw attention to the numerous fledgling efforts at conservation planning currently underway in communities throughout the country. These efforts show how a variety of existing land use planning tools, such as incentive-based programs and regulations, can be applied locally to protect biodiversity. http://www.reconnectingamerica.org Reconnecting America ’s CTOD has begun a year-long effort funded by the U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to examine the linkages between affordable housing and transit investment policies. This effort will focus on regional and corridor level initiatives in Charlotte , Denver , Portland, Boston and Minnapolis and provide national and local policy makers with a synthesis of the barriers and opportunities to using TOD to achieve affordable housing goals. http://www.urban.uiuc.edu/sacrph/index.html The Society for American City and Regional Planning History (SACRPH) is an interdisciplinary professional organization dedicated to promoting greater understanding of the history of people's efforts to shape the landscapes of cities and metropolitan regions. Today, the organization's members include nearly 300 planners, scholars, and other urbanists from around the world. http://www.arborday.org/treecity Do you know which communities in your area are designated a "Tree City USA" by the National Arbor Day Foundation?  To find out, go to arborday.org/treecity.  A map will appear that lets you click on your area to see a list of cities honored with the Tree City USA award, how many years they have received the award, and their populations.	Green Streets Equal Less RunoffU.S. Water News Online SALEM, Ore. -- Imagine a flowerpot filled with marbles glued together. Pour water over the top, and watch the water trickle through to the bottom. That's how the streets in a new development in South Salem will work to eliminate stormwater runoff. The "green streets" are just another part of the environmentally conscious Pringle Creek Community development, where 180 homes are planned on a 32-acre property. Only 10 percent of the normal runoff from roofs, sidewalks and patios will make it to Pringle Creek. The development's streets will be soaking up water instead of moving it away. "Ninety percent of the rainwater that falls on Pringle Creek Community will be returned to the aquifer," said developer Don Myers of Sustainable Development Inc. "This is a wonderful way to manage rainwater." The key to green streets runs contrary to typical road building, in which the goal is to push water away from the road quickly. The traditional surface is slick to repel water, curbs direct the water along edges of streets and deep gutters capture it just before it is dumped in a waterway. "All rainwater hits the road, runs to the curb and goes somewhere," said Chuck Gregory of W & H Pacific, which created the asphalt mix. "As long as the water is not in the street or the driveway, people don't care where it goes." more>>>