Regional Planning,Clearances and Evaluation: A Look at The A-95 Process

Rapid growth of regional councils (COGs) has provided the potential for regional governance in almost all metropolitan areas. However, most of these councils are without authority, except for the review process for federal grant applications established under OMB Circular A-95. The operation of this review process is examined and its basic failure is found in its current inability to distinguish between good and bad applications from a regional point of view. It is recommended that COGs continue to be guided by their federal supporters toward the development of a regional capacity to plan, and to evaluate and seek implementation on the basis of those plans.