Bennet Congratulates Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments on Selection to Sustainable Communities Building Blocks Program

Pikes Peak Among 32 Communities Across Country Selected in Competitive Process

Washington, DC – April 8, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today congratulated the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) on it selection to participate in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Sustainable Communities Building Blocks program. The council will receive technical assistance during a day-long session that will help them achieve their sustainable planning goals.

“Traffic, urban sprawl, and pollution are not only annoyances, they are symptoms of bad policy,” Bennet said.  “Communities and local governments across Colorado, like PPACG, have already taken important steps to integrate housing and transportation and reduce pollution. The Building Blocks program will give them access to tools that will help them maximize their efforts to spur local economic development through smart planning.”

EPA selected the 32 communities from 354 applicants through a competitive process in consultation with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). During a day-long session with private-sector experts, participants will focus on specific sustainability tools such as zoning code reviews, walkability assessments, or economic and fiscal health assessments. They will also learn about additional environmentally responsible, economically healthy development techniques and general sustainable community strategies.

Sustainable Communities Building Blocks is coordinated through the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, a joint effort between EPA, HUD, and DOT to coordinate federal actions on housing, transportation, and environmental protection. This interagency collaboration achieves efficient federal investments in infrastructure development, facilities, and services that meet multiple economic, environmental, and community objectives.

More information on the Building Blocks program: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/buildingblocks.htm

More information on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/partnership/index.html