The Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition and Norhteast-Midwest Institute welcome Christine Kontra as the Coalition's new legislative director. Prior to joining the NEMW Congressional Coalition, Christine worked as a Legislative Assistant to Rep. Steve LaTourette (OH-14), for whom she handled appropriations, environment, defense, national security, veterans, and arts issues. In addition, she spent two years working in the Columbus, Ohio, office of Senator George Voinovich, and worked in the communications department of the Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University. Christine has B.A.'s in Political Science and History of Art from The Ohio State University. She is a native of Willoughby, Ohio.

You can contact Christine Kontra at Christine.Kontra@mail.house.gov

On April 20^th from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in 1310 Longworth House Office Building, the Congressional Urban Caucus and the Northeast Midwest Congressional Coalition will hold a joint briefing that will focus on ways federal programs can be used to help finance green business opportunities in dense urban areas.   With the help of New Market Tax Credits and other Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) fund programs, innovative, green investments can create jobs and revitalize distressed communities.   Panelist invited to participate include:

 

For more information contact Greg Lewis at the Northeast-Midwest Institute or Brenden Chainey in the office Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA).

The Great Ships Initiative, managed by the Northeast-Midwest Institute, has posted findings on the performance of the Siemens SiCURE Ballast Water Management System in GSI land-based trials conducted consistent with International Maritime Organization guidelines on the GSI project website. Also posted is a Great Lakes Relevancy Preamble which helps interpret the report findings in terms of the Great Lakes Ecosystem and operational requirements for ships which ply the Great Lakes.

Fore more information contact Allegra Cangelosi, 202-464-4007, at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

The April edition of the Mid-Atlantic Watersheds Updateis now available on the Northeast-Midwest Institute website. Updates include details on Coastal Jobs Bill, FY 2011 Earmark Situation, and Chesapeake Draft Guidance. The update also features news clippings relevant to the region.

For more information contact Rachel Dawson, 202-464-4016, at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

On March 7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the availability of approximately $25 million (including about $5 million to be used to address resource concerns in the Mississippi River Basin) to fund projects designed to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative farmland conservation approaches and technologies through its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) in fiscal year 2010. USDA says in its press release that the Mississippi River Basin "funding will help USDA further advance its recently announced Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative for 12 Midwest and Southern states." Links to the USDA announcement and to associated links can be found here.

For more information contact Mark Gorman, at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

On April 7th, the Chesapeake Bay Program unveiled the 2009 Bay Barometer, which continues to report general poor health for the Bay despite some areas of improvement. The overall health of the Bay received a score of 45% with 64% of restoration implementation goals met. Some notable bright spots include improvements in bottom-dwelling species, a more robust blue crab population, and a surpassing of oyster reef enhancement goals.

For more information contact Rachel Dawson, 202-464-4016, at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.