COG-Wide News

Region Forward Public Comment Period Ends Soon

Region Forward © sets the stage for future success by proposing goals, targets, and a compact agreement to address regional issues such as land-use, transportation, the environment, health, affordable housing and public safety. The report is the culmination of a year-and-a-half of work by COG's Greater Washington 2050 Coalition. COG is requesting comments on the report by November 30, 2009. To read the report and submit a comment, click here.

Outreach Events, Ads, Media Stories Promote Region Forward

COG's Greater Washington 2050 initiative and its Region Forward report have been featured in a number of outreach events, advertisements in local newspapers and online news websites, and media stories over the last several weeks. A Coalition for Smarter Growth forum focused on the report on November 12 and was covered by the Washington Business Journal. Coalition members, such as Chair Sharon Bulova, have discussed the report on a number of news shows including NBC4's Viewpoint and News Channel 8's NewsTalk. For the Washington Business Journal story, click here. To view some of the outreach events and TV shows on COG's Facebook page, click here.

RSVP for COG Annual Luncheon on December 9

Please join top area elected officials and business, civic and nonprofit leaders for the COG Annual Luncheon on December 9 at the Renaissance Hotel. The theme of this year’s luncheon is Federal + Regional: Building a Better National Capital Region illustrating COG’s goal of strengthening ties with its federal partners. HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims will deliver the keynote address and discuss new opportunities for cooperation between federal and regional officials on issues related to community development and urban policy. To register for the event online, click here.

Environment News

COG Launches National Capital Farms Web Site

COG recently launched NationalCapitalFarms.org, a new Web site aimed at promoting and protecting local agriculture in the metropolitan Washington region. It provides up-to-date information on locally grown food, farmers markets, wineries and much more. The site is hosted by COG on behalf of the Regional Agricultural Workgroup partners, which include local governments, farmers, farmers markets, and other nongovernmental organizations. To visit NationalCapitalFarms.org, click here.

Transportation News

TPB Wins Diversity Leadership Award

At the Awards Ceremony of the D.C. Chapter of WTS on December 3, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board will be honored with the Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award for its initiatives that serve the transportation needs of the region’s diverse populations.  WTS, an international organization dedicated to the professional advancement of women in transportation, highlighted recent work by the TPB such as bringing wheelchair-accessible taxi service to the District of Columbia, conducting a review of MetroAccess, reaching out to the Hispanic community in pedestrian safety campaigns, and training community leaders and activists to get more engaged in the transportation planning process. For more information on the award and TPB's initiatives as well as photos from the November 12 taxicab demonstration, click here. Judith Heumann, TPB Vice Chair and D.C. Councilmember Muriel Bowser, and David Sharp pictured.)  

 Implementing Stimulus

COG is keeping its members updated on the latest developments related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) via its online Regional Information Center.

Click here to visit the ARRA Regional Information Center

 The COG Podcast: Featured Episodes

Paul DesJardin and John Mataya of COG's Department of Community Planning and Services : Moving the Region Forward: Five-part podcast series on the Greater Washington 2050 report.

Click here to listen to these and other episodes of 'The COG Podcast'

About COG:

For more than 50 years, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, known as COG, has helped develop solutions to issues of regional importance. COG is an independent, nonprofit association comprised of elected officials from 21 local governments, members of the Maryland and Virginia legislatures, and members of the U.S. Congress. The Metropolitan Memo is sent to COG’s membership of over 250 local, state and federal elected officials as well as regional stakeholders and citizens. If you would prefer not to receive this newsletter, or need to change your email address, please contact Steve Kania.

Copyright © 2009, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). All Rights Reserved.