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Phone: (202) 261-9881
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Based in Washington DC, Sustainable Strategies DC provides local governments, non-profits, coalitions, and green technology firms with strategic consulting, federal advocacy, funding support, grants advocacy, issue campaign management, environmental legal services, and other assistance. Our focus areas include community revitalization, sustainable community development, infrastructure investment, environmental and clean energy technologies, clean transportation, brownfields redevelopment, and other sustainability issues.
Led by experienced sustainability advocates and government affairs experts, including CEO Matt Ward and President Andrew Seth, and boosted by strategic alliances with a team of specialized firms, Sustainable Strategies DC will help you obtain the results you seek on sustainable community and green technology issues.
Looking for project funding? Need support for a clean energy or environmental restoration project? Seeking a public or private partner on your infrastructure project? Trying to overcome tough legal, regulatory or environmental policy challenges? Do you need a strategy or assessment of your project's opportunities and how you might navigate the federal process? Want to get something done in Washington, DC? The team at Sustainable Strategies DC has a solid track record of helping organizations create and implement strategies that can help you secure resources for revitalization and tools for success in the green economy. Let us know how we can serve you.
Hot News & Issues
Funding Available for Community Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts' (NEA) Art Works program provides support for the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, and promotes public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and the strengthening of communities through the arts. Typical projects include the commissioning and development of new work, the presentation of performances or exhibitions at home or on tour, arts education projects for pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade students, the documentation and preservation of significant art works or cultural traditions, the publication and dissemination of work important to the field, innovative uses of new models or technology to create work or engage audiences, and the professional training of artists. Grants generally range from $10,000 to $100,000. The deadline for applications is July 24, 2014. Click here for more information. Contact Andrew Seth at (202) 261-9881 or andrew.seth@strategiesdc.com.
Grants Available to Expand Use of Alternative Fuel
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the availability of $4.5 million to expand the use of alternative fuels through the Clean Cities program, which works with nearly 100 local coalitions and thousands of stakeholders across the country to decrease the use of petroleum in transportation. DOE will fund up to 15 deployment projects in the following areas:
- On-the-road demonstrations - Projects will help potential buyers drive these vehicles for extended periods of time and gather data about their experiences. By increasing access to these vehicles through car-sharing, rental car, and commercial fleet leasing programs, the projects will enable drivers to better understand their benefits.
- Safety-related training - Projects will develop and/or deliver training on alternative fuel vehicles to emergency first responders, public safety officials, and automotive technicians. This area may fund in-person workshops and online training courses to educate these vital personnel on safely handling and responding to incidents involving alternative fuel vehicles.
- Emergency preparedness - Projects will incorporate alternative fuels into city, state, and regional emergency management plans. Because natural disasters often interrupt gasoline and diesel fuel supplies, alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure can be valuable resources for disaster relief and emergency response teams.
Grants Available for Buses and Bus Facilities
Approximately $100 million is available in competitive grant funds through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) new Ladders of Opportunity Initiative. The funds may be used to modernize and expand transit bus service specifically for the purpose of connecting disadvantaged and low-income individuals, veterans, seniors, youths, and others with local workforce training, employment centers, health care, and other vital services. Program funds may be used to purchase, replace, or rehabilitate transit buses and vans as well as to modernize or construct bus facilities (such as maintenance depots and intermodal facilities) in urban, suburban and rural communities. The deadline for applications is August 4, 2014. Click here for more information. Contact Andrew Seth at (202) 261-9881 or andrew.seth@strategiesdc.com.
Planning Money Available to Revitalize Distressed Communities
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced the availability of its Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants, which support the development of comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans that transform distressed public and assisted housing, while supporting the surrounding neighborhood and improving residents’ health, safety, employment, mobility, and education. HUD anticipates awarding grants of up to $500,000 each. Eligible applicants are public housing authorities, local governments, nonprofits, tribal entities and for-profit developers that apply jointly with a public entity. The deadline for applications is August 12, 2014. Click here for more information. Contact Andrew Seth at (202) 261-9881 or andrew.seth@strategiesdc.com.
Grants Available to Support Main Street Revitalization
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) HOPE VI Main Street Program provides grants to small communities to assist in the renovation of an historic or traditional central business district. The initiative enables localities to enhance economic development and provide affordable housing in “Main Street” areas. HUD expects to make one award of $500,000 in 2013. Only local governments with a population of 50,000 or less, with fewer than 100 physical public housing units within the jurisdiction (excluding Section 8 Housing Voucher subsidized units), are eligible to apply. The deadline for applications is August 18, 2014. Click here for more information. Contact Andrew Seth at (202) 261-9881 or andrew.seth@strategiesdc.com.
EPA Seeks to Honor Communities for Smart Growth Innovation
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking applications for the 13th annual National Award for Smart Growth Achievement. This competition is open to public-sector, private-sector and non—profit entities that have successfully used smart growth principles to improve communities environmentally, socially and economically. EPA will honor communities in four categories: (1) Built Projects; (2) Corridor and Neighborhood Revitalization; (3) Plazas, Parks and Public Places; and (4) Policies, Programs and Plans. In addition, one Overall Excellence winner will be selected from those that apply. Sustainable Strategies DC prepared the City of Dubuque's successful Corridor or Neighborhood Revitalization entry in 2013, and is helping communities get organized to compete this year. Click here for more information. Contact Andrew Seth at (202) 261-9881 or andrew.seth@strategiesdc.com.
Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency Funding Available for Indian Tribes
The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the availability of up to $7 million in funding for eligible Indian Tribes, Tribal Energy Resource Development Organizations and Tribal Consortia in two topic areas:
- Installation of clean energy and energy efficiency retrofit projects for tribal buildings;
- Deployment of clean energy systems on a community-scale.
Grants Available to Support Economic Development Projects
The Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Economic Development Assistance Program provides grants to support job creation in economically distressed areas of the United States. Public Works investments support the construction or rehabilitation of essential public infrastructure and facilities. EDA grants can also support green economic development, including renewable energy, green building, energy efficiency, and recycling projects. Sustainable Strategies DC has helped localities nationwide secure EDA funding for their community priorities. The deadline for applications is October 17, 2014. Click here for more information. Contact Andrew Seth at (202) 261-9881 or andrew.seth@strategiesdc.com.
Great Lakes Restoration Funding Available
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) Coastal Program provides technical and financial assistance to coastal communities and landowners to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat on public and private lands. Projects are developed strategically, in coordination with partners, and with substantial involvement from FWS field biologists. Funding is available to coastal areas within the Great Lakes basin, including parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Project funding ranges from $40,000 to $150,000; approximately $400,000 is available in 2014. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public and State controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments and organizations, nonprofit organizations, individuals, for profit organizations, and small businesses. Click here for more information. Contact Andrew Seth at (202) 261-9881 or andrew.seth@strategiesdc.com.
Funding Available for Green Infrastructure
Since 2009, states have been required to spend a portion of their Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) dollars on projects that address green infrastructure, water or energy efficiency improvements, or environmentally innovative activities. In FY 2014, Congress and President Obama have provided another $1.45 billion to capitalize the CWSRF program, and mandated that no less than 10 percent of these funds be dedicated to the Green Project Reserve, or approximately $145 million nationwide. The state agencies that administer CWSRF programs have developed different methods to disperse Green Project Reserve dollars. Contact Sustainable Strategies DC for help in navigating how Green Project Reserve dollars are spent in your state. Click here for more information. Contact Andrew Seth at (202) 261-9881 or andrew.seth@strategiesdc.com.
$750 Million Authorized in FY 2013 for Transportation Loans, Lines of Credit and Loan Guarantees
The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program provides secured loans, lines of credit and loan guarantees for eligible surface transportation projects. Eligible projects include highways, transit and intermodal, passenger rail, and intelligent transportation systems. Generally, the minimum size for TIFIA projects is $50 million ($25 million in rural communities). The recently signed transportation reauthorization legislation - Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) - authorizes $750 million for the TIFIA program in FY 2013, a significant boost above the FY 2012 level of $120 million. Entities wishing to apply for TIFIA credit assistance must first submit a Letter of Interest. Click here for more information. Contact Andrew Seth at (202) 261-9881 or andrew.seth@strategiesdc.com.
Bonds Available for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Projects
In 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allocated $3.2 billion in bond volume for the Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QECB). QECBs are debt instruments that states, local governments and tribes can issue at extremely low rates to fund energy conservation projects, including energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy installations, green community programs, and public education campaigns. Each state received a QECB allocation proportionate to its population, which was subsequently sub-allocated to their largest local governments (cities and counties of 100,000 population or more). While a number of localities have successfully used QECBs, much of the $3.2 billion allocation remains unissued. In most states, cities and counties interested in funding energy projects with QECBs can still tap into unused allocations. Click here for more information. Contact Andrew Seth at (202) 261-9881 or andrew.seth@strategiesdc.com for additional details.
