During last week’s virtual conference, NARC President Marge Vogt announced the winners of NARC’s photo contest and shared the stories behind these great pictures. Click here to view the six winning entries and read the stories behind these photos. Also included are the runner-up entries. With so many excellent entries, it was a real challenge to pick the winners!
Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Peter DeFazio (D-OR) released a transportation reauthorization proposal today called Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act (INVEST in America Act). Read the initial assessment of the bill here.
This past Friday, the House of Representatives passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act). The 1,815-page legislation would provide a $3 trillion follow-up to the $2.2 trillion CARES Act aid passed into law in March. This summary provides a breakdown of the bill’s contents, with a focus on key items for regions including transportation and economic development provisions.
NARC, along with the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) and the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) has written to congressional leaders to request that Congress appropriate at least $20 billion in flexible transportation funds through the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBGP) in the next coronavirus relief bill. Read the full letter here.
Join the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) and the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) to learn how regions can join with GCoM to take action on climate change by developing regional Climate Action Plans. The webinar will provide an overview of the GCoM process, outline the required steps for regions interested in joining, and share the potential value of working with GCoM on regional climate initiatives.
Join us for a webinar exploring the impact of coronavirus on regional planning efforts. Presenters will provide updates from their region and share their perspective regarding some of the many planning questions that have arisen from the COVID-19 pandemic, including: How might COVID-19 alter the built environment? How do you plan for growth during this period? And what major changes might COVID-19 cause for transportation systems and the way people move?
Due to COVID-19, Earth Day has moved online this year, with virtual events and posts taking the place of traditional celebrations. Check out how regional councils have joined in to celebrate the day online.
Read NARC’s analysis of the recently passed CARES Act, which will provide the country with $2.3 trillion of aid to counter the physical and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of our continuing effort to help keep you informed about COVID-19, NARC will host a webinar on regional responses to COVID-9, on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. eastern/2:00 p.m. central/1:00 p.m. mountain/12 p.m. pacific. Topics that will be covered include “continuity of operations,” regional council support of their member cities and counties, and public outreach. This will also be an opportunity for you and your colleagues to share information, concerns, and solutions.
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic continues to spread across the country, regions have begun to take action. NARC has collected resources for local governments and regional councils as they work to support their communities.