The EPA (the job-killing, regulating machine we talk about a lot here on the Earth Blog) has announced the 2012 beneficiaries of their “Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities” program. The program is part of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities that includes the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Building Blocks program isn’t handing out money to fifty-six communities in twenty-six states- they are providing technical assistance which is a fancy term for information. These communities asked the EPA to come in to help create a plan for improving their town’s infrastructures. 

The EPA explained it best: “The assistance will be delivered in a day-long workshop for each community that will provide ideas on local policies and procedures to improve the local economy, environment, and quality of life. Each community will receive a short ‘next steps’ memo outlining options the community can consider as it moves forward.”  

If a community can move forward with projects it could mean jobs because majority of the information is about how towns can improve their sidewalks, streets, water quality and build greener which are some of
the tools to creating sustainable communities. The EPA has identified ten and each town or county’s workshop will focus on a specific tool.

A number of cities and one county will get “Walking Audits” to “assess the pedestrian environment.”

Creating walkable towns and neighborhoods is becoming extremely popular for several reasons: it decreases dependence on cars which is good for the environment and can create vibrant, accessible neighborhoods that will encourage economic growth while fostering a sense of kinship.

Three towns in Illinois will learn how to “Link Land Use to Water Quality.” The EPA will work with the local government to find new ways to protect water quality and still use the  surrounding land efficiently.

This year four non-profit organizations received grant money and will provide additional assistance to communities by conducting work consistent with the EPA’s goals through Building Blocks.

Last year the EPA provided thirty-two communities with technical assistance itself because they had not designated the non-profit grant money. The results of last year’s workshops doesn’t appear to be posted on the EPA website. 

However, St. Louis, Missouri received a National Award for Smart Growth Achievement in the “Overall Excellence” category last year for revitalization of the historic Old North neighborhood. Part of the project revamped two main blocks “with new sidewalks, benches, street trees, and streetlights. The changes, which required rehabilitating 27 vacant buildings, reconnected the commercial district to the neighborhood.” Thanks to the community's efforts now “Old North has varied amenities, including restaurants and shops, all within walking distance of homes.”

St. Louis just happened to receive a “Walking Audit” last year and the two events could very well be connected.