always a prerequisite to ARA projects. Specific administrative requirements for planning vary from area to area according to needs. Relation between planning and action programs.-Applications for Federal loans and grants for area redevelopment must be approved by the local area redevelopment organization and by the State agency designated by the Governor to coordinate State responsibilities under the Area Redevelopment Act. Such approvals must be consistent with a previously approved overall economic development program for the locality being assisted. Representation on the local area redevelopment organization of all public agencies with related program activities, responsibilities for comprehensive urban planning, and responsibilities for carrying out the project being assisted, is assumed to assure adequate opportunity for review and participation in the approval of project plans as well as approval of the OEDP by those public agencies. Formal review and approval actions by local planning agencies are not required by Federal laws or regulations.

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Federal review of planning.-The adequacy of OEDP's, and comprehensive urban development plans that may be part of them, is reviewed in detail by the headquarters staff of ARA. A critique of each OEDP is written as a basis for improving it in the future. At first all OEDP's were termed "provisional" and were required to be improved to the status of "comprehensive" within a year in order to maintain eligibility of the redevelopment area. But by ARA memorandum, dated December 20, 1962, this concept has been changed to one of a continuing OEDP process in which substantial progress must be shown each year in order to maintain eligibility.

EVALUATION OF ORGANIZATION AND PLANNING REQUIREMENTS

ARA has attempted a solution to the area wide problem by establishing its own local counterparts to deal with. These local groups are broadly representative of a wide range of community interests, including governmental, business, labor, and others, but the members of the local area redevelopment organization are not necessarily elected or appointed by responsible elected officials. These groups have the power to develop an area redevelopment program (OEDP), and Federal aids under the ARA program must conform to this program. In carrying out its planning functions, it is somewhat equivalent to a metropolitan planning agency with project approval power in addition to planning authority. If the problems of economic development which are under study are larger in scope than an area which one local area redevelopment organization can effectively represent, regional OEDP's are required to be attached to the local OEDP.

The biggest difference between the OEDP and the "workable program" of the Housing and Home Finance Agency is in the local approving agency. The workable program must be approved by a strictly local general purpose unit of government whereas the OEDP is approved by a special purpose but areawide group at the local level, and by a State agency. The legislation for ARA does not require special purpose local redevelopment organizations; in fulfilling the Federal OEDP and project approval requirements, general purpose units of local government could be given a larger role.

48 U.S. Area Redevelopment Administration, "Planning for New Growth-New Jobs," pp. 10-11.

It is not clear just how existing local units of government are fitted into the OEDP other than by representation in the local area redevelopment organization. In addition, the contents and form of OEDP's are very flexible, leaving very much to the discretion of individual administrators in the Washington office who review and write critiques on each OEDP each year. Consideration could profitably be given to insuring by administrative policy that OEDP's are reviewed and commented on by official local and metropolitan planning authorities. ARA's idea of providing "one stop service" for information on all Federal urban development aids is a good idea and it should help to bring about comprehensive programs in the local communities. Other Federal agencies should follow ARA's lead in this respect.

DOCUMENTATION

U.S. Area Redevelopment Administration, "The Overall Economic Development Program: What It Is; How To Prepare One for Your Community." Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, August 1961.

U.S. Area Redevelopment Administration, "Planning for New Growth-New Jobs." Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1962.

U.S. Area Redevelopment Administration, "Financing Area Redevelopment." Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1962.

U.S. Area Redevelopment Administration, "A Community's Own Overall Economic Development Program (Preliminary)." Washington: processed, Aug. 1, 1962.

U.S. Area Redevelopment Administration, memorandum on the subject of "The Overall Economic Development Program-Policies and Procedures." Washington: Dec. 20, 1962.

U.S. Area Redevelopment Administration, "Local and Regional Factors in Preparation of Overall Economic Development Programs (OEDP's)," Policy Guideline No. 10 (revised). Washington: Nov. 6, 1962.

U.S. Area Redevelopment Administration, "Annual Report on the Area Redevelopment Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, 1962." Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1963.

U.S. Area Redevelopment Administration, "Technical Assistance in Area Redevelopment." Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1963.

U. PUBLIC WORKS ACCELERATION

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

The accelerated public works program provides grants of up to 75 percent of project costs for the construction of needed public works. These grants can be made only in areas of substantial unemployment or in ARA areas, and are made in an effort to "not only increase employment at a time when jobs are urgently required but *** also [to] meet longstanding public needs, improve community services, and enhance the health and welfare of citizens of the Nation." Federal public works construction projects are also eligible under the law.

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The President is authorized to allocate the funds among the various types of Federal, State, and local projects 8 and to "prescribe rules, regulations, and procedures to carry out" the program.49 The President has given the Area Redevelopment Administration authority for coordinating the program. All funds are allocated to existing Federal programs and are administered by the departments and agencies already responsible for those programs. Limitations on the Federal share of costs, which are lower than limitations in the acceleration act, are superseded. About 80 percent of the financial assistance to State and local governments, under the acceleration program, is administered through the Community Facilities Administration of HHFA and the Public Health Service of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Municipal buildings, water and sewer facilities, hospitals, and street and sidewalk improvements are the public works most commonly accelerated. Airports, small watershed projects and certain other types of public works are also eligible. The program is authorized by the Public Works Acceleration Act of 1962 (42 U.S.C.A. 2641-2643). State and local public works projects were assisted in fiscal year 1963 in the amount of $277 million.

COORDINATION WITHIN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The Area Redevelopment Administration has been given authority from the President for overall coordination of the several parts of the accelerated public works program.

EFFECTS ON THE ORGANIZATION OF GOVERNMENTS IN AREAS RECEIVING AID

Types of units affected.-State and local public agencies are eligible for public works grants under the eligibility requirements of the existing Federal program which is being accelerated. The accelerated

project must be within areas designated in accordance with the Area Redevelopment Act.

Area of jurisdiction.-The geographic jurisdiction of the aided State or local government must be in accordance with requirements of the Federal program being accelerated, and must include the portion of an officially designated ARA area where the project is to be built.

Cooperation between jurisdictions. Provisions of law relating to the Federal programs being accelerated are controlling. The Public Works Acceleration Act itself does not impose any population or organizational limitations. However, the aided projects must be put underway as quickly as possible and must be substantially completed within 12 months. This time limitation would tend to discourage negotiations for cooperative agreements unless they are already underway or contemplated for other purposes.

EFFECTS ON STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL PLANNING PROCESSES

Functional planning.-The act requires Federal funds under this program to be used only for needed public works. 50 Consequently there must be attached to the application for each project statement describing the public need. The best way to support such needs is with analyses of, and plans for, the type of service to be provided. But there is no formal requirement for public works plans. If such plans had not already been prepared, there would not be time for prepa

ration.

Comprehensive planning.-There is no requirement for a comprehensive urban development plan but if one does exist, the proposed project cannot be inconsistent with it.51

Relation between planning and action programs.-Appropriate reviews and certification by planning and action agencies with responsibilities related to the project being accelerated are required in accordance with the provisions of the Federal aid programs being accelerated. No additional requirements are made by the public works acceleration program.

Federal review of planning.-State and local plans affecting accelerated projects are reviewed only to the extent required by the Federal aid programs being accelerated.

EVALUATION OF ORGANIZATION AND PLANNING REQUIREMENTS

The countercyclical emergency character of the public works acceleration program precludes planning prerequisites which would cause significant delays in getting construction projects underway. However, consideration should be given to strengthening the present requirement, that accelerated projects not be inconsistent with comprehensive planning where it exists and by giving priority in the allocation of funds to communities with comprehensive urban development plans.

The degree to which the public works acceleration program results in orderly construction depends very much upon the organization and

Ibid., sec. 2(a).

Ibid., sec. 3 (f) (5).

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planning requirements in the regular Federal programs which are accelerated.

DOCUMENTATION

U.S. Community Facilities Administration, "Accelerated Public Works Program: Fact Sheet." Washington: U.S. Housing and Home Finance Agency, September 1962.

U.S. Community Facilities Administration, "Accelerated Public Works Program: Information for Applicants." Washington: U.S. Housing and Home Finance Agency, October 4, 1962.

U.S. Community Facilities Administration, "Instructions and Guides for Completing the Application for Grant," CFA-1102. Washington: U.S. Housing and Home Finance Agency, October 4, 1962.

U.S. Community Facilities Administration, "Accelerated Public Works Program: Application for Grant," CFA-1101. Washington: U.S. Housing and Home Finance Agency, October 4, 1962.

U.S. Area Redevelopment Administration, "Your Community and the Accelerated Public Works Program." Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1962. U.S. Federal Aviation Agency, “Federal-Aid Airport Program." Washington: undated.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, "Accelerated Public Works-New Tool for Revitalizing Rural America." Washington: September 1962.

U.S. Soil Conservation Service, "USDA's Soil Conservation Service Ready To Accelerate Conservation and Watershed Work." Washington: U.S. Department of Agriculture, September 1962.