News Releases

News Releases from Region 04

EPA to Develop Sustainable Design Strategies in Columbia, SC

06/23/2016
Contact Information: 
James Pinkney (pinkney.james@epa.gov )

ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today it has selected Columbia, SC as one of six cities for technical assistance with sustainable design strategies under its Greening America’s Communities (GAC) program. The 2016 cities chosen for assistance are: Columbia, SC; Brownsville, TX; Oklahoma City, OK; Muscatine, IA; Honolulu, HI; and Multnomah County, OR.

“EPA is excited to roll up our sleeves and start working with the next round of cities through Greening America’s Communities,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.  “This program is another example of EPA making a visible difference in communities—helping build healthy, vibrant neighborhoods and stronger local economies centered on environmental sustainability.”

In the coming months, EPA will fund a team of designers to visit each selected city to create designs that will support a larger planning and implementation process for a pilot area. Through the Green America’s Communities program, these teams will provide assistance to help communities use green infrastructure and other environmentally friendly designs to create more walkable, bikeable, and vibrant neighborhoods.

Columbia, SC will create designs to protect an urban stream and create a greenway that will minimize flooding and establish a walkable connection through the Capital City Mill District.

Under the GAC program, formerly known as Greening America’s Capitals, EPA helped 23 capital cities and the District of Columbia with sustainable design strategies.  Results from previous GAC projects include:

  • Little Rock, AR received more than $3.2 million in public investment to revitalize Main Street.
  • Charleston, WV received a $650,000 grant from the U.S Department of Transportation for Slack Plaza redesign.
  • Lincoln, NE invested over $1.5 million from a U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant and from local funds to add green infrastructure and other improvements along 11th Street.
  • Baton Rouge, LA has secured $250,000 to begin detailed design of the Downtown Greenway and $100,000 for construction on the first section of the greenway trail.
  • Phoenix, AZ spent $575,000 to complete the first phase of bike lanes and other road improvements along Grand Avenue.
  • Montgomery, AL has spent $1.3 million of local funds to make improvements to the historic Selma to Montgomery Trail.

More information on Greening America’s Communities: 
/smartgrowth/greening-americas-communities

Connect with EPA Region 4 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4 

And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast

###