Transformational Adaptation and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Now Comes the Hard Part

In episode 178 of America Adapts, we dig into the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) as a catalyst for transformational adaptation. Joining the podcast: Adie Tomer of the Brookings Institution talks about their infrastructure resource hub; Shalini Vajjhala of re:focus partners returns to discuss how they are helping local communities be strategic in their adaptation planning and finding practical approaches for grant applications; Brandon Kay of Tempe Arizona and Tom Jacobs of the Kansas city region, discuss how their communities are using their existing adaptation planning efforts to help them apply for funds. Bonus conversations: Samantha Medlock, the General Counsel for the now sunsetted U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and Chad Nelson from Infrastructure Canada. These experts are in the thick of climate planning and they will offer useful advice on how your community or organization and apply for this adaptation funding. If done effectively, this infrastructure funding can lead to transformational adaptation.

Topics covered:

• What is the Infrastructure and Jobs Investment Act.
• How can local communities tap into the Act's funding.
• The role of regional collaboration in grant applications.
• Environmental and climate justice embedded in the Act.
• The legislative history of the Investment Act.
• Infrastructure and Adaptation Resource Hub
• Adaptation in Tempe, Az and the Kansas City region.
• Infrastructure and adaptation in Canada.

Experts in this Episode:

• Adie Tomer, Senior Fellow at Brookings Metro at the Brookings Institution
• Shalini Vajjhala, Founder and CEO of Re:focus Partners
• Braden Kay, Director of Sustainability for the City of Tempe, Arizona
• Samantha Medlock, former Senior Counsel, Select Committee on the Climate Crisis at U.S. House of Representatives
• Tom Jacobs, Director, Environmental Programs, Mid-America Regional Council
• Chad Nelson, Principal Advisor for Climate Adaptation and Resilience, Infrastructure Canada

This episode was generously sponsored by the Genesee Mountain Foundation.

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Resources and Links in this episode:

Brookings Federal Infrastructure Hub
https://www.brookings.edu/interactives/brookings-federal-infrastructure-hub/

Resources mentioned by Tom Jacobs of Marc
https://kcmetroclimateplan.org/
www.marc.org
https://www.brookings.edu/experts/adie-tomer/

https://www.refocuspartners.com/team/

Infrastructure Canada -- https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/index-eng.html

Solving the Climate Crisis: Building a Vibrant and Just Clean Energy Environment
https://www.congress.gov/116/chrg/CHRG-116hhrg41340/CHRG-116hhrg41340.pdf

Canada's National Adaptation Strategy
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/nia-eni/index-eng.html

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Strategies to Address Climate Change Risk in Low- and Moderate-income Communities - Volume 14, Issue 1
https://www.frbsf.org/community-development/publications/community-development-investment-review/2019/october/strategies-to-address-climate-change-low-moderate-income-communities/

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