Karl Dinkelspiel, Senior Project Manager at the Portland, Oregon Housing Bureau, talks about the importance of incentivizing growth around transit and the steps the city has taken to encourage the development of affordable housing. See more interviews with issue experts here >>
The City of Greer had a vision for turning around their downtown. Mayor Rick Danner talks about they went about implementing that vision through a Master Plan created with the help of a public-private partnership and turned their downtown from a couple of restaurants into a vibrant center that includes a new city hall, a … Continued
Investing in better development benefits everyone in a community.
Better development means children can walk to school without fear of being hit by a car.
Better development means more people can reach their jobs quickly, easily and affordably.
Better development means small businesses can thrive downtown, in neighborhoods that form the backbone of America’s regional economies.
This holiday season, take a stand for better development: Donate to Smart Growth America today >>
Today is Giving Tuesday, the unofficial start of the holiday giving season. Unlike Black Friday or Cyber Monday, however, Giving Tuesday is a day to support the causes you believe in.
As a supporter of Smart Growth America, I know how our communities grow is important to you. I hope you’ll take that support to the next level this year and make a donation today.
This Giving Tuesday, support strong communities: Donate >>
You are a crucial part of making neighborhoods across the country stronger, safer and more affordable. Take a stand for these issues and make a donation today.
Today is the start of a brand new focus for Transportation for America.
Since 2008, T4America has been a leading advocate in Washington for a national investment plan for transportation that matches today’s challenges and opportunities. Smart Growth America is proud to call T4America one of our programs.
Today, T4America is launching the next phase: A new alliance of business, elected, and civic leaders from cities, towns and suburbs across the nation. They know how valuable a robust transportation network is for local economies, and that stronger local economies build a stronger America. They will be there to stand up for local communities as Congress in 2014 addresses the growing hole in the transportation fund and the expiration of last year’s MAP-21 law.
For the past five years, Transportation for America has worked with advocates, allies and supporters to urge Congress to make smarter investments in America’s transportation system.
Next week, Transportation for America is starting something new: An alliance of business, elected and civic leaders from cities, towns and suburbs across the nation. These community leaders know how critical it is to invest in a robust transportation network that can support local economies. And we know stronger local economies build a stronger America.
You are invited to the kick-off event. On November 19, hear these leaders discuss why their local economies need better transportation investments, and the actions Congress must take in the coming year. Visit Transportation for America’s website to watch a live webcast of the event, and join the conversation on Twitter at @T4America.
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Local Economies, National Prosperity
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The topography of Carlisle, Iowa presents a unique challenge for dealing with stormwater management. Mayor Ruth Randleman talks about dealing with these issues in a cost effective way and creating a plan to mitigate future problems. See more video interviews with Local Leaders here >>
Ben Bakkenta is a Program Manager for the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) in the Seattle Metropolitan Region. PSRC is spearheading the innovative Growing Transit Communities project to bridge the gap between the broad transit visions for the region and the implementation of projects at the local level. The project focuses on existing and future … Continued
Hannah McKinney, Vice Mayor of Kalamazoo, Michigan, on engaging residents in the development of a Comprehensive Plan for future sustainable development. See more interviews with local leaders here >>
Ryan Coonerty, former Mayor of Santa Cruz, CA and Co-founder of NextSpace, discusses what Santa Cruz is doing to attract the new creative class of residents and businesses. See more video interviews with Local Leaders here >>
Liberty, TX is one of the many communities where the federal Brownfields Tax Incentive has brought new jobs to formerly abandoned industrial plants.
The National Tube and Pipe (later Allied Pipe and Tube) opened in Liberty in 1973 and eventually became the largest employer in the town. When the company closed in 1993, it left behind a 492,000 square-foot manufacturing facility contaminated with PCBs, asbestos, a polluted retention pond and petroleum.
In 2009 Boomerang Tube, a manufacturer of pipe and tubes for oil and gas customers, announced its intent renovate and expand the old National Tube and Pipe factory into a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. The project would bring 350 manufacturing jobs back to Liberty in the process. Boomerang Tube had one significant hurdle, though: an estimated $1.2 million in cleanup costs.
The federal Brownfields Tax Incentive program helped make cleanup feasible for Boomerang. The Tax Incentive effectively limited the impact of cleanup costs on the development budget. Tax abatement and other local incentives also factored in, and Access Industries provided financing for the project. All of this helped clear the way for a $200 million investment in the plant and equipment.