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Archive for General

States expand COVID-19 response

*This information originally appeared in an APA newsletter*

Unpacking federal relief legislation
The federal government finished its work late last week on the third phase of coronavirus economic relief for the country — and the first (but likely not the last) for communities.
$150 billion in relief funding for states and localities, $25 billion in emergency funding for public transportation agencies, $5 billion in new CDBG funding and $4 billion in homeless assistance grants, and support for the municipal bond market are among the provisions included in the CARES Act that will provide critical support to planners as you respond to and recover immediate challenges.
APA Policy Director Jason Jordan detailed these provisions, answered your questions, and outlined the legislative and regulatory road ahead in this rapid response briefing.
Examining the states’ responses to COVID-19 
Federal action gives states an important role in the flow of resources to local communities. Amidst the federal activity, governors and legislators are continuing to respond to COVID-19 through a series of executive orders and proposed legislation.
What are states doing to ensure that communities – and planners – have what they need to weather and adapt to this rapidly changing environment? APA Senior State Government Affairs Associate Catherine Hinshaw outlines the state of the states.

APA – Planning During a Pandemic: 6 Resources for Planners

APA has put together a list of tools for planners on planning.org.

Tools available include:

March 12: Section Council Meeting – UPDATE – Remote Only

APA PA SE will be having a section council meeting at 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM on March 12.

The call in number is:

1-866-499-7054

Code: 7352890020

2020 Annual Conference Call for Presenters!

Call for Presenters is now open!

Proposals are being accepted online only via the Chapter website. The deadline to submit a presentation proposal is Friday, March 6.The conference committee is seeking traditional and non-traditional sessions. For complete details see the Call for Presenters

Conference Date and Location:
October 18-20, 2020
Hilton Scranton
100 Adams Ave, Scranton PA 18503

Questions:
If you have any questions, please email Kim Gusic at

Open Funding Opportunities

Community Conservation Partnership Program Grants

More Information: https://www.brcgrants.dcnr.pa.gov/

Deadline: April 22, 2020

DCNR is accepting applications for its Community Conservation Partnerships Program grants. The 2020 grant application round opened January 15 and will close April 22. Funds can support projects such as:

  • Planning, acquisition, and development of public parks
  • Trail planning and construction
  • River conservation and access
  • Open space conservation
  • Streamside tree planting

Applicants should contact their Bureau of Recreation and Conservation Regional Advisor to discuss project ideas and application requirements prior to submitting. To apply for a grant, please use the DCNR Grants Customer Service Portal.

Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant

More Information: https://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Land/Waste/Recycling/Municipal-Resources/FinancialAssistance/Pages/default.aspx

Application deadline: April 24, 2020

Contact: mvottero@pa.gov, 717-787-7382

These grants of up to $200,000 provide assistance to eligible nonprofit organizations such as shelters and food banks for proper food management. “Access to fresh food in underserved communities is a public health and quality of life issue, but it’s also an environmental justice issue. While traveling across the state, my staff and I often hear from underserved communities that access to fresh food is a significant concern, so we wanted to do our part to address this issue in a meaningful, environmentally focused way,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. The grant application deadline is April 24, 2020.

Economic Impact Initiative Grants

More Information: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/economic-impact-initiative-grants

Purpose

Economic Impact Initiative Grants provide funding to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural communities that have extreme unemployment and severe economic depression.

An essential community facility is one that provides an essential service to the local community, is needed for the orderly development of the community, serves a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial, or business undertakings.

Examples of essential community facilities include:

  • Healthcare: hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, nursing homes, assisted-living facilities
  • Public Facilities: city/town/village halls, courthouses, airport hangers, street improvements
  • Community Support Services: child care centers, community centers, fairgrounds, transitional housing
  • and more

Eligibility

Public bodies, federally-recognized tribes, and nonprofit organizations in eligible rural areas may apply.

Eligible rural areas must meet specific criteria:

  • Cities, villages, townships, and federally-recognized tribal lands with no more than 20,000 residents
  • Unemployment rate for the service area is greater than 19.5%

Median household income of the service area is below 90% of the state non-metropolitan median household income

APAPASE New Officers

APAPASE is pleased to announce contact information for the section’s new officers! The chapter has one Citizen Planner spot open as well. If you or someone you know is interested in being a citizen planner, please contact us at nominations@apapase.org.

Executive Committee
Alexis Williams – Chair – chair@apapase.org
John Federico – Vice Chair vicechair@apapase.org
Rick Collier – Treasurer – treasurer@apapase.org
Pattie Guttenplan – Secretary – Secretary@apapase.org
Justin Dula – Past Chair – justin@apapase.org
Citizen Planner 
Cheryl Tumola
Linda McIsaac
Are you interested in being a citizen planner on the council? Contact us at nominations@apapase.org

At Large
Ramond Joseph
Amanda Lafty
Kiersten Mailler
Maureen McQuilkin
Rebecca Ross
Rebecca Wetzler

Sponsor APA Pennsylvania Southeast for 2020

The work and programs by the Southeast Section of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association (APAPASE) aren’t possible without the support of our sponsors. We are releasing sponsorships now for organizations who prefer to take advantage of end of year giving, but are always happy to work with new year sponsors as well.

The sponsorship levels are laid out in our 2020 Sponsorship Package . If you would like to discuss a custom sponsorship, simply contact sponsorship@apapase.org to start the discussion.

Sponsors reach the diverse membership of APAPASE which includes citizen planners, planning officials, and professions planners from the public, private and nonprofit sectors. It also supports programming for emerging professionals and students.  We host a variety of events, ranging from educational to social.

The APAPASE Annual Event brings together planners from around the region.

Our Annual Event is the headline event for planners in the Philadelphia region.  Each fall, the membership meets at this educational and networking event.  AICP certified planners receive CM credits for the educational portion. Student are on hand to receive the annual John E. Pickett Awards. All members then have a chance to network and enjoy refreshments at a unique venue in the region.  Most sponsorship levels receive tickets to the event.

Annual Event Sponsors now have the exclusive opportunity to sponsor the event. Annual event sponsors are able to have their name exclusively highlighted in event marketing. They are also able to introduce the keynote speaker of the event and address the assembled membership. This is in addition to all the other sponsorship benefits.

Platinum Sponsors and Gold level and greater sponsors also have the option to submit select project highlights and received featured job postings to our members.

All sponsors are featured on this website, which receives over 44,000 website hits and an average of over 4,000 unique visitors each month! Articles are emailed to over 1,400 planners and colleagues every month. Our popular Job Postings section of the website has become a go-to tool for finding planning jobs in Greater Philadelphia and sponsors receive featured postings as articles on the website for greater visibility.

Southeast Chapter's booth at Future City

Events highlighting planning projects in Greater Philadelphia are made possible through sponsorship of APAPASE

There are also opportunities to sponsor specific events that meet your organization’s outreach goals. AICP study group sponsors reach professionals who are reaching the next level of the profession while assisting them by providing study materials and refreshments for sessions.

Mentorship program sponsors reach graduate planning students in the region who are looking to learn more about the professional experience they will have after graduation.

Happy Hour sponsors reach a range of professionals and students at a local networking event.

Educational Seminar sponsors reach AICP certified professionals looking to learn about a particular topic. Sponsors can help shape the agenda for the topic if they wish or sign on to sponsor an event already being planned.

Ryerson University (Toronto, Canada) School of Urban and Regional Planning Students Visit Philadelphia

From October 6-9, 2019, a group of approximately 45 undergraduate students from Ryerson University’s School of Urban and Regional Planning in Toronto, Canada visited Philadelphia. One of their instructors, René Biberstein, explained that the group was here to learn about planning issues in the city. During their four days in Philadelphia, the students and their instructors participated in walking tours, a bus tour, and panel discussions to learn more about the city’s planning history, and how this history affects local planning issues, opportunities, and decision-making.

APAPASE helped connect the group with a variety of planning-related organizations, including the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC), Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (PRA), SEPTA, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), Lindy Institute, Drexel University, USA250, and McCormick Taylor, a full-service transportation and energy consulting firm with a Planning and Communications practice.

While at McCormick Taylor, the students met with company ownership and staff to discuss the differences in planning culture between the United States and Canada and what it is like to work as a professional planner. Presenters also provided information on local projects, such as SEPTA’s extension of the Norristown High Speed Line, King of Prussia Rail.

Students from Ryerson University’s School of Urban and Regional Planning in Toronto, Canada visited Philadelphia and meet with local planners

Photo Credit: Adam Dall, McCormick Taylor

 

Students from Ryerson University’s School of Urban and Regional Planning listen to a panel discussion about the Function and Role of Consultants in the Planning Process on Monday, October 7, 2019, at McCormick Taylor’s headquarters in Philadelphia.

Featured Listing – Economic and Demographic Analyst

DVRPC is hiring a Economic and Demographic Analyst! Click through for more information.

 

https://apapase.org/job/dvrpc-economic-and-demographic-analyst/

Vote for PennDOT Connects – Deadline Oct. 6

Vote for PennDOT Connects

PennDOT was named as one of the Top 12 projects nationwide in the America’s Transportation Awards competition for our PennDOT Connects transportation planning initiative. PennDOT Connects engages community stakeholders, planning organizations, and local governments to help ensure that community needs are understood at each phase of a transportation project’s planning process.

PennDOT Connects was nominated in the Quality of Life/Community Development category and is competing for the national Grand Prize and the People’s Choice Award.

Support PennDOT Connects by voting today and often!

Online voting ends at 11:59 p.m. eastern time on Sunday, Oct. 6. Cast your vote at http://AmericasTransportationAwards.org. Individuals can cast no more than one vote per day.