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Proposal Abstract (source: Dr. Janice Lee)

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We propose a Treasury program to obtain 2-21 micron NIRCam+MIRI imaging of the unique sample of 19 nearby (d < 20 Mpc) star-forming main sequence galaxies with public HST, ALMA, and VLT-MUSE data. By resolving IR emission across these 19 morphologically diverse galaxies into individual regions and clusters (5-50 pc scales), the proposed JWST measurements will enable a complete inventory of star formation activity in our targets, accurately measure the mass and age of their stellar clusters, pinpoint the youngest embedded clusters, and reveal the physical state of the small dust grains that heat the ISM. We will generate and rapidly release high level data products that will fuel diverse, high impact science in the fields of star formation, feedback, ISM physics and galaxy evolution. In combination with UV-optical Hubble imaging of 10,000 clusters, MUSE spectroscopy mapping of 20,000 HII regions, and 12,000 ALMA-identified molecular clouds, our team will use the Treasury data to measure the timescales and efficiencies of the earliest phases of star formation and stellar feedback, build the first empirical model of how small dust grain properties depend on local ISM conditions, and quantitatively establish how dust-reprocessed starlight traces star formation activity and mass, all across a representative range of conditions in the z=0 universe. In short, this Treasury will provide a revolutionary data set to the JWST community early on, spur major scientific advances, and build on recent legacy programs of HST, ALMA and MUSE.