| Northeast-Midwest Institute Weekly Update |
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NEMW Welcomes New Senior Policy Analyst
| After completing a postdoctoral fellowship with the Northeast-Midwest Institute, Colleen Cain has joined NEMWI as Senior Policy Analyst and Research Council Project Director as of January, 2011. As a fellow, she conducted research on regional demographic trends, the distribution of federal funds, and green infrastructure in older industrial cities. As Research Council Project Director, she aids the organization President in the establishment of a new approach for delivering timely and cutting edge information on critical regional issues to the Coalitions, states and the region, generally.
Dr. Cain received master's and doctoral degrees in sociology from the University of Florida. She completed her bachelor's degree, also in sociology, from John Carroll University. Dr. Cain's primary areas of interest and research are urban studies and inequality as it relates to race, income, gender, and environment. For her doctoral dissertation, she conducted research in her hometown of Pittsburgh, focusing on the city's first Community Benefits Agreement.
For more information contact Fritz Ohrenschall, Research Associate at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. |
House Great Lakes Task Force Co-Chairs Elected
| The House Great Lakes Task Force has elected its bipartisan co-chairs for the 112th Congress. Representatives John Dingell (D-MI) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY) were re-elected. Representative Candice Miller (R-MI) was also elected as a new co-chair. The co-chairs bring many years of service and a passion for Great Lakes issues.
For more information contact Joy Mulinex at the Great Lakes Task Force. |
EPA Releases Chesapeake Bay TMDL
| Last week, the US Environmental Protection Agency unveiled the final Total Maximum Daily Load for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The TMDL sets pollution limits on nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment for the six Bay states and DC. All pollution controls are to be in place by the states by 2025, with federal agencies contributing through parallel work to be measured in two-year milestones. EPA intends to hold states accountable for meeting their targets through enhanced oversight.
According to the EPA, "The pollution diet calls for a 25 percent reduction in nitrogen, 24 percent reduction in phosphorus and 20 percent reduction in sediment. The TMDL - which sets Bay watershed limits of 185.9 million pounds of nitrogen, 12.5 million pounds of phosphorus and 6.45 billion pounds of sediment per year - is designed to ensure that all pollution control measures to fully restore the Bay and its tidal rivers are in place by 2025, with at least 60 percent of the actions completed by 2017."
For more information contact Rachel Dawson, Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. |
NEMW Region Loses Clout in U.S. House of Representatives
| On December 21, 2010 the U.S. Census Bureau unveiled a new set of state and national population numbers that will reshape the U.S. House of Representatives Seat Map in 2010. The Northeast-Midwest region will lose House seats, and sunbelt states will gain them. Fewer seats in Congress means diminished power within the region's Congressional delegation to address unique NEMW regional issues, unless the region's delegation works effectively together across state and party lines. More facts on these changes can be found in a newly-released brief by the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
For more information contact Colleen Cain, Senior Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. |
FTA Announces $182.4 Million For New Starts Projects
| The Federal Transit Administration announced the seven recipients of $182.4 million in New Starts funding. New Starts is the primary federal program localities use to fund new fixed guideway or bus rapid transit system or to build large expansions to existing ones. This round of funding went to projects in New York City (2), Dallas, Salt Lake City (2), Seattle, and Northern Virginia. The funds were given early because of unallocated fiscal year 2010 dollars in the FTA. For the press release and list of projects funded visit the FTA website.
For more information contact Fritz Ohrenschall, Research Associate at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. |
10th Annual New Partners For Smart Growth Conference Registration
| The 10th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference in Charlotte will underscore the connections between smart growth, equitable development and environmental justice with a pre-conference workshop on "Achieving Equitable Development: Strategies to Empower Community Organizations" on February 2. The daylong workshop will be held the day before the New Partners conference kicks off and will complement the Equitable Development track that runs throughout the February 3-5 conference.
The conference registration deadline is January 14th and you may register on the conference registration page. The deadline to receive the reduced group rate for this event ($95) at the Westin Charlotte Hotel is January 10th. Call 1-866-837-4148 and indicate that you are attending the New Partners Conference.
For more information contact Fritz Ohrenschall, Research Associate at the Northeast-Midwest Institute. |
Registration Open for Brownfields 2011 Conference
| Registration is open for the 2011 National Brownfields Conference which takes place April 3-5, 2011 in Philadelphia (click here to register). The conference is the largest, most comprehensive event focused on cleaning up and redeveloping abandoned, underutilized, and potentially contaminated properties in the nation. There is no better deal in the redevelopment marketplace than Brownfields 2011 because registration is FREE! The conference is cosponsored by the U.S. EPA and ICMA, and attracts more than six thousand registrants and hundreds of exhibitors.
Brownfields 2011 will offer:
- More than 100 lively panel sessions, interactive roundtable discussions and engaging town hall meetings
- Real-world projects showcased in mobile workshops and tours
- Exciting plenary speakers and networking events
- More than 200 solutions-oriented product and service providers in the Exhibit Hall
- Film screenings, volunteer activities and other special events
- The Economic Redevelopment Forum
- The Environmental Justice Caucus
- Regional EPA Open Houses
Whether you're a newcomer to the world of economic and environmental redevelopment, or a seasoned professional looking to make new connections and increase your business, Brownfields 2011 offers something for everyone.
For more information visit the conference website at www.brownfields2011.org.
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