NADO Regional Development Digest - March 17, 2005
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In this issue:
•  Communities Adjust for Economic Survival
•  Key Players in Rural Transportation Planning
•  Lending a Hand to Build Loan Fund Capacity
•  Regional Approaches to Protecting Communities
•  Coping with Brownfields Prohibited Costs
•  New Center to Promote Environmental Sustainability
•  511 Gives Travelers Clear Direction
•  State Associations Work Toward Regional Cooperation
•  Around the Regions
•  Digestibles
•  NADO Events and Conferences

Regional Approaches to Protecting Communities

By: Amy Linehan, Legislative Representative
Find out how regional development organizations are playing a key role in homeland security initiatives in their regions and throughout their states.

September 11th changed the way communities across this nation view emergency management. News headlines carried new buzz words like “homeland security” and “first responders.”  But how could a rural community develop the required local emergency management plans, and how would they train their first responders to respond to terrorism related incidents? Regional development organizations (RDOs) have the technical expertise, staff capacity and planning tools to assist in implementing homeland security initiatives, not just in their own districts, but in many instances, across their entire states.

The Central Mississippi Planning and Development District (CMPDD) in Jackson, recently entered into a year-long contract with one of its county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to assist them in planning the state’s homeland security requirements. Under the contract, CMPDD will update and develop area homeland security strategic plans and assessments, as well as implement and manage programs for equipment acquisition, training and exercises.

The Northeast Florida Regional Planning Council (NEFRPC) in Gainesville, provided staff to run seven homeland security training exercises for all of the state’s regional development organizations. As a result of this successful training, NEFRPC has entered into a contract with the state to provide 10 additional statewide first responder training exercises in 2005.

These are only two examples of RDOs engaged in homeland security initiatives. To address this trend, NADO, in partnership with the National Association of Regional Councils, will publish a report highlighting ways that RDOs are providing key homeland security assistance. Designed to be used as a tool for membership and to create a dialogue at the state and federal levels, the report will also illustrate approaches that many states have taken in using the existing systems of RDOs as the distribution mechanism for homeland security dollars.

For more information or to contribute to the report contact Amy Linehan at 202.624.8177 or alinehan@nado.org.

EPA Gets Involved in Homeland Security The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) role in homeland security was stepped up following their cleanup of the September 11 and anthrax attacks. EPA established a permanent National Homeland Security Research Center in November 2004.  Based in Cincinnati, OH, research scientists and engineers are working to develop tools that detect intentional introductions of chemical or biological contaminants, along with procedures for containment, decontamination and disposal of cleanup materials. There is an emphasis on water infrastructure security.  For more information visit www.epa.gov/nhsrc.