By Ron Thaniel, Eugene Lowe and Judy Sheahan
November 8, 2010

Administration officials highlighted work by the Partnership for Sustainable Communities at the National Press Club on October 21 to support more livable and sustainable communities across the country. The Partnership – which consists of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – builds economic competitiveness by connecting housing with jobs, transportation, and more. Since early October, the agencies have released $409.5 million in grants to support sustainable communities.

"These grants will help boost economic development with the goal that all Americans can afford to live in communities with access to employment, schools and transportation options," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "Communities across the country offered bold, unique proposals to plan and build sustainably based on their own local resources, landscape, culture and ingenuity. With this partnership we can lay the foundation for sustainable economic prosperity for generations to come by helping communities that share problems start sharing solutions."

"These investments represent an unprecedented new way of working together. And they set a powerful example for how we can reward true excellence, effective partnerships, and the good stewardship of taxpayer dollars," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Americans can rebuild their communities – not just in spite of enormous economic challenges, but as the means for overcoming them."

"President Obama has made clear that sustainable communities with affordable housing and access to a broad range of transportation options are vital to rebuilding the foundation for prosperity in this country," EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said. "This partnership is bringing our efforts together, allowing our resources to have more impact, and ensuring that we are collaborating on the housing, transportation and environmental needs that are essential to the success of every community. Our work has already helped to create healthier communities and open up better opportunities to attract new jobs and investments."

On June 16, 2009, LaHood, Donovan, and Jackson announced that they were forming the Partnership for Sustainable Communities. This action marked a fundamental shift in the way the federal government structures its transportation, housing, and environmental spending, policies, and programs and environmentally sustainable.

The Conference of Mayors supports the reforms in federal policy as outlined by the partnership that integrate transportation, economic development, and land use using transit-oriented development with the measurement of improved mobility of goods and people, increasing affordable housing investment near transit and employment opportunities. Furthermore, the Conference is urging mayors to voice strong support for the partnership as it is under attack by the powerful highway and road lobby.