Our nation’s low-income people and communities of color are continually at the frontlines of economic crises.  Sustained economic recovery depends on the participation and prosperity of all citizens and the development of healthier communities of opportunity.  The $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (passed in February of 2009) presents a tremendous opportunity to maximize gains for those hit first and worst and to put equity at the forefront of policy and resource decisions.  This moment of unparalleled investment is also an opportunity to build stronger coalitions at the local and state level and to establish the groundwork for influencing future federal policy decisions such as transportation reauthorization and Workforce Investment Act reauthorization.

PolicyLink is working with partners and coalitions to impact the direction of legislation, administrative policy, and agency priorities.  We are also undertaking targeted work in select cities, regions, and states to support the implementation of federal resources and programs to maximize economic and social equity.

Shaping Federal Decisions

PolicyLink is working with the new administration, federal agencies, and Congress to shape recovery decisions being made at the federal level.

• "Recommendations for the Prevention and Wellness Funds,” a memo prepared by PolicyLink and Prevention Institute for President Obama’s Administration (pdf)

• Letter prepared by PolicyLink to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary LaHood on Developing Criteria for Discretionary Surface Transportation Grant
  
  

Supporting Partnerships and State, Regional, and Local Decisions

State and local agencies across the country are deciding how to invest billions of recovery dollars. PolicyLink is providing information, resources, and guidance to ensure that decisions benefit low-income people and people of color. This includes promoting accountability and transparency and tracking results and outcomes of the recovery. PolicyLink is also deepening our local and regional partnerships to support successful and equitable implementation of projects. This includes creating publications, giving presentations, and hosting conference calls to translate opportunities for advocacy related to economic recovery.

• Atlanta
• California
• Greensboro, North Carolina
• Kansas City, Missouri
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
  

Action-Oriented Resources

PolicyLink has developed several users guides and hosted a series of conference calls to highlight opportunities for advocates to engage in an equitable recovery.

• Bringing Home the Green Recovery: A User's Guide to the 2009 America Recovery and Reinvestment Act (pdf)
• An Engine of Opportunity: A User's Guide to Advocate for Transportation Equity in the 2009 Recovery Act (pdf)
• Demand EquityNow: A Recovery Briefing Series
• Stimulus 101, Presentation to Mitchell Kapor Foundation, April 7, 2009
• Presentation to Efficiency Cities Network, April 14, 2009

For more on our Federal Policy Agenda, see Spotlight: PolicyLink Resources (right column).

Other Resources

See our list of action-oriented resources -- from government and advocates -- on useful and timely topics ranging information on transportation and recovery to green recovery and energy efficiency, and housing recovery.