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Washington Aroostook Regional Plan for Sustainable Development
WCCOG is one of 11 consortium members recently awarded an $800,000 HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning grant. In collaboration with Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) and 10 other "consortium" members, WCCOG will work over the next 3 years to develop a Washington Aroostook Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (WARPSD) as summarized in the application abstract.
An element of this initiative is to take stock of our assets – human, natural and capital – and to position our economy for a sustainable future. The Washington Aroostook Regional Plan for Sustainable Development process includes:
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regional planning elements that seize on the economic opportunity offered by wind and tidal power generation, already underway in our region,
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a modern telecommunications infrastructure,
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initiatives to significantly reduce the regions reliance on fossil fuels,
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building on the energy plans being prepared through funds already obtained by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,
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developing transportation alternatives that can be implemented in low density rural areas,
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coordinating and capitalizing on nature-based tourism and scenic byway initiatives,
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developing affordable housing near centers of employment,
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building on active and successful Brownfields assessment initiatives region-wide,
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leveraging the development of a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy in a new Economic Development District now aligned with a common Workforce Investment Board,
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leveraging the funds and expertise of Maine state planning and transportation agencies to improve water infrastructure, transportation planning and statutory changes to allow adoption of the WARPSD,
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state of the art GIS modeling in cooperation with universities in our region to assist with visioning and scenario planning that will allow planners and the public to discuss alternative futures.
To address HUD policy priorities the WARPSD includes multiple opportunities to share lessons among partners and to disseminate those lessons. In addition to policy, results will be data driven. Among other metrics, the consortium will track the change in median household income as the primary indicator for success of the WARPSD. Policy lessons and metrics will use the research and publication networks of the two universities, Maine Sea Grant and the Cooperative Extension
Service. Extensive outreach across other media is also proposed to reach community members. In addition to media, community meetings and use of partner networks for release of “highlights”, a web site will be dedicated to the WARPSD for monthly fact sheets, draft documents and input.
The most powerful aspect of this grant funding is the requisite collaboration among the agencies and affected populations within and between the two counties. The leadership provided by the federal collaboration of HUD, DOT and EPA has spurred a strategic response from the local, regional and state levels. This opportunity will not only create the WARPSD it will also establish dialogue among and between regional groups and serve as a basis for long term collaboration. The WARPSD will
allow coordination among a full cross section of existing and new development initiatives thereby achieving unprecedented integration and synergy among the consortium and within the community.
For more information, please contact Judy East at 454-0465.
WCCOG is a
municipal membership organization that delivers a wide range of
customized planning, advisory
and resources development services to help communities
build the future of Washington County, Maine.
Judy East, Executive Director
Washington County Council of Gov'ts
PO Box 631, Calais, ME 04619
(207) 454-0465 Fax: (207) 454-2568
Toll free (888) 287-3006
