WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that the metropolitan Washington region is one of eight regions nationwide that will receive technical assistance from the agency to promote sustainable growth and development issues.

The winning project, submitted by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), was based on Region Forward, a vision for making the region more accessible, sustainable, prosperous, and livable, and on the National Capital Region Climate Change Report.

The EPA will assist COG and its members to integrate climate change adaptation in local and regional planning by:

• Assessing climate change risks to the region;
• Identifying smart growth strategies that will improve the region's capacity to adapt to climate change;
• Facilitating the sharing of those strategies among local decision-makers

As metropolitan Washington’s primary forum for discussion and action on issues of regional significance, COG is well-positioned to act on these three fronts.

“Now that all 21 of COG’s member governments have endorsed Region Forward, it’s time to implement the plan. The challenges posed by climate change demand that we develop adaptation strategies that will ensure the sustainability of our region,” said Arlington County Chairman Jay Fisette, who also serves as Chairman of COG’s Climate, Energy, and Environment Policy Committee.

The EPA Smart Growth Assistance Program is part of larger partnership between EPA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Department of Transportation (DOT) to help build environmentally and economically sustainable communities.

For more information on the Smart Growth Assistance Program and the grant winners, visit: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/sgia.htm.