Initiative for a Metropolitan Community
St. Louis, MissouriAbstractThe East-West Gateway Coordinating Council (EWGCC), in cooperation with its project partners, is proposing the implementation of an innovative regional community development process to address regional transportation, land use, and socioeconomic issues using a holistic and context-sensitive approach. The effort is designed to provide model practices and processes which will be transferable to all metropolitan regions seeking collaborative mechanisms for accomplishing regional planning and growth guidance objectives. The proposed effort is the implementation of a number of proposals which are part of the Council's Initiative for a Metropolitan Community (IMC). The EWGCC and its partners will implement a wide variety of tasks under the general heading of regional planning and governance. These undertakings will serve to improve the coordination of land use planning and transportation investment by focusing on the improvement of decision-making, expanding the application of ""best practices", and enhancing citizen understanding about the development and maintenance of vital and enduring communities. Through the Initiative for a Metropolitan Community process, EWGCC and its partners will engage hundreds of citizens, the private sector, and more than 200 public agencies and local governments. Materials produced throughout this project will be distributed through a variety of mechanisms including television and video, web sites and CDs, the local news media, and traditional printed forms. Many of these materials will be made available for distribution to audiences outside of the St. Louis region. It is anticipated that this project will positively affect short- and intermediate-term development and investment decisions at both the local and regional level. In addition, the outreach and engagement efforts will produce long-term effects as the citizenry of the region gain an enhanced understanding of sustainable development principles and develop a heightened sense of regional identity. The EWGCC is requesting $600,000 in TCSP funds to assist in carrying out these efforts. While the EWGCC has committed over $350,000 to eligible supporting activities through its 1999-2000 Unified Planning Work Program, the additional TCSP funds are essential to expanding the scope of activities beyond traditional MPO activities. It is anticipated that project sponsors will contribute approximately $120,750 in additional cash and in-kind services to the project. Previous Page | 
