The Administration has been working to assemble the building blocks of a new approach to livable communities over the past several years. Let me mention two of these initiatives. Through the Brownfields National Partnership, more than 20 Federal agencies have collaborated to provide financial and technical support for local brownfields efforts. To help communities restore and revitalize rivers and riverfronts, the Administration established the American Heritage Rivers initiative. The Administration will be assisting local residents, communities, and other stakeholders to restore the health of their river and riverfront, promote economic revitalization, and preserve the cultural and historic heritage of the river.
Communities know best.
Government can supply information, tools and resources to empower citizens and communities by helping them envision different strategies. Government can also provide incentives for communities to work together to address challenges of growth and development. It focuses broadly on a range of issues to improve the quality of life in a community and touches on important parts of our daily lives - the safety of our homes and streets, our commute to work, the schools where our children learn to read, and the parks where we relax. A critical element of the Livability Agenda is the Better America Bonds program. The Better America Bonds Program will provide communities with an additional tool to preserve their open spaces, protect their water, revitalize their blighted urban areas, and improve their quality of life, in a manner that works best for them.