DOEA Communities for a Lifetime

AARP developed a concept of Livable Communities. A livable community is one that has affordable and appropriate housing, supportive community features and services, and adequate mobility options, which together facilitate personal independence and the engagement of residents in civic and social life. To learn more, visit AARP Web site – www.aarp.org.

The Waterfronts Florida Partnership, launched by the Florida Coastal Management Program in 1997, helps participating communities revitalize, renew and promote interest in their waterfront district. For more information, visit Florida Department of Community Affairs Web site – www.dca.state.fl.us/fdcp/dcp/waterfronts.

Florida Main Street is a technical assistance program of the Bureau of Historic Preservation, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State. The Bureau conducts statewide programs aimed at identifying, evaluating, and preserving Florida's historic resources. Main Street, with its emphasis on preservation, is an effective strategy for achieving these goals in Florida's historic retail districts. For more information, visit Florida Department of State, Main Street Web site – http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/preservation/architecture/mainstreet/.

The Front Porch Florida Initiative was created in 1999 as a means to rebuild distressed communities. Front Porch Florida takes up this challenge to revitalize underserved communities that are dedicated to positive cooperation and communication to make their community a better place to live, work, and play. For more information, visit Florida Department of Community Affairs, Front Porch Web site – http://www.floridacommunitydevelopment.org/fpf/index.cfm.

Florida Department of Health, Protocol for Assessing Community Excellence in Environmental Health (PACE-EH) – http://www.doh.state.fl.us/ENVIRONMENT/programs/PACE-EH/PACE-EH.htm.

American Institute of Architects, Aging by Design and Sustainable Design Assessment Team Programs – http://www.aia.org/.

Partners for Livable Communities is a national, nonprofit organization working to restore and renew our communities. Partners has over twenty-five years of experience in solving community problems by providing information, leadership and guidance that help communities help themselves. For more information, visit - http://www.livable.com/.

A NORC is the widely used term that is short for naturally occurring retirement community. It is a community that was not originally built for seniors, but that now is home to a significant proportion of older residents. The NORC Blueprint reflects the diversity of NORC program experiences and perspectives and was informed by a working group of 20 individuals from across the country involved in NORC program development. For more information, visit the NORC Blueprint http://www.norcblueprint.org/.

The National League of Cities is the oldest and largest national organization representing municipal governments throughout the United States. Its mission is to strengthen and promote cities as centers of opportunity, leadership, and governance. America Downtown Program offers technical assistance to local governments to revitalize their downtown areas. For more information, visit - http://www.nlc.org/.

Florida League of Cities is a membership organization consisting of municipalities or other units of local government. Currently, 99 percent of Florida's 412 municipalities and five charter counties are represented by their voluntary membership in the Florida League of Cities. The goal of the Florida League of Cities is to promote local self-government and serve the needs of the municipal governments in Florida. For more information, visit http://www.flcities.com /.

The American Institute of Certified Planners created the Community Assistance Program (CAP) to address social equity issues through the provision of pro bono planning services to communities in need. For more information, visit American Institute of Certified Planners, Community Assistance Program Web site - http://www.planning.org/cap/.

United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Community Development Technical Assistance program is committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America – http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/.