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<br />9A <br />Page 12 <br /> <br />brands and products as well as valuable information and resources to help participants make educated <br />decisions about green procurement. <br /> <br />In other action, NLC Executive Director Don Borut was elected Chairman of the Board of U.S. <br />Communities. Chris McKenzie and Dan Harrison of the League of California Cities both serve on the <br />board of directors. <br /> <br />U.S. Communities is a nonprofit that assists public agencies in reducing the cost of purchased goods and <br />services through pooling the purchasing power of public agencies nationwide. This is accomplished <br />through competitively solicited contracts for quality products through lead public agencies. There is no <br />cost for a city to participate. <br /> <br />Through co-sponsorship by the League of California Cities, U.S. Communities brings cities in California <br />the best government pricing available anywhere. Over 350 California cities use one or more U.S. <br />Communities contracts. The most committed users are large cities; but by taking advantage of the same <br />pricing as large cities, small cities enjoy the largest percentage savings. <br /> <br />For general information about U.S. Communities. visit: www.uscommunities.ora. For green procurement <br />products and resources, visit: www.aoareencommunities.ora. <br /> <br />NLC Hosts Webcast on "Implementing the Economic Recovery Act: Funding for <br />Highways, Roads, Bridges, and Transit" <br /> <br />The National League of Cities held its second economic recovery webcast on Wednesday, March 11, <br />entitled "lmp\ementation of the Economic Recovery Act: Funding for Highways, Roads, Bridges, and <br />Transit:' <br /> <br />The webcast reviewed the $27.5 billion in funding for federal surface transportation dollars to be <br />distributed to the state and local government projects covered in the American Recovery and <br />Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed into law February 17, 2009. <br /> <br />Speakers for the webcast included NLC President Kathleen M. Novak, mayor, Northglenn, Colo., NLC <br />Federal Relations Director Carolyn Coleman, NLC Principal Legislative Counsel, Federal Relations. Leslie <br />Wollack and Will Schroeer, state policy director for Smart Growth America. <br /> <br />Wollack briefed city officials on the formula grants going to local govemments and how they can be used. <br />The Department of Transportation (DOT) has created the Transportation Investment Generating <br />Economic Recovery (TIGER) team to accurately track the money as its being spent and insure that all <br />accountability requirements are being met. Local officials are encouraged to work with their state's DOT <br />and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to implement the use of the federal stimulus funds. <br /> <br />Schroeer presented next with an overview from Smart Growth America on how the transportation money <br />can be and should be spent. The Smart Growth Web site also provides two guides detailing this <br />information at www.smartarowthamerica.orQ. Participants were able to submit questions via e-mail during <br />the presentation. <br /> <br />The NLC webcast and presentation slides are available for viewing on www.NLCTV.orQ. Please see the <br />"Recent Events" section and click on the presentation titled "Implementation of the Economic Recovery <br />Act: Funding for Highways, Roads, Bridges, and Transit." <br /> <br />You may also view the webcast on the Federal Economic Stimulus section of the League's Web site at <br />www.cacities.oralfederalstimulus. <br /> <br />One Year After Second Chance Act: New Funds to Stop the Prison Cycle <br />by Mitchel Herckis and Katie Seeger, National League of Cities <br /> <br />3 <br />