An Active Roadmap: Best Practices in Rural Mobility

Rural communities in America vary across many dimensions including population and demographic trends, economic and health indicators, and others. Some communities have continued to thrive with improving quality of life and stable or growing economies, while others have experienced a long and slow decline. What is clear is that there are many strategies, including improving … Continued

Rural Development

VIDEO: How an obscure federal measure justifies the hefty price tag of destructive, divisive roadway projects

Our newest video, part of Divided by Design, helps explain how federal guidance known as value of time gets used every day to justify the cost of building incredibly expensive highways (or additional highway lanes) that divide our communities, produce more congestion and pollution, and ultimately make it harder to get around in nearly every … Continued

Transportation

Divided by Design

Beginning in the 1950s, highways devastated communities of color and changed our cities forever. But the consequences continue, even as we begin to acknowledge our past mistakes. Why? Our new report examines the racist roots of our current transportation system, revealing that flawed thinking continues to haunt our policies and practices. Without a fundamental change … Continued

Advancing Racial Equity Transportation

The Case for Climate-Informed Zoning: A Study of Fiscal Impact in Norfolk, VA

As the impacts of climate change continue to intensify, zoning presents a key tool to direct development to protect communities from climate events. Norfolk, Virginia, a city at severe risk from sea level rise due to climate change, is among the first cities in the US to use climate adaptation as a core consideration for … Continued

Climate Change Land Use and Development Zoning

Request for Proposals: Arts and Culture Consulting Services

Smart Growth America (SGA) is seeking proposals for consultant services for its Arts & Culture team. Such services will support the Arts & Culture team’s thought leadership and programming and include but are not limited to program design, implementation, and reporting/evaluation, event planning, communications strategy, stakeholder research and engagement, and related support services. SGA is … Continued

Creative Placemaking

SGA selected to administer HUD Community Compass initiative

Smart Growth America, in partnership with the National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB), was selected to administer technical assistance as part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Community Compass program. In the coming months, SGA will work to support three communities in assessing their zoning constraints to delivering affordable … Continued

Land Use and Development Technical assistance Zoning

New survey: 82 percent of voters don’t believe highway expansions are the best solution for reducing congestion

New nationwide survey shows that prioritizing road repair, improving transit, and reducing driving are more popular options for spending transportation dollars A new nationwide survey of American voters’ attitudes reveals a significant divide between voters’ attitudes about the best short-and long-term solutions for reducing traffic, versus the actual priorities of their state and local transportation … Continued

Complete Streets Transportation

Now Hiring: Communications Associate

Smart Growth America (SGA) seeks an exceptional writer, editor, content producer, and strategic communicator with experience in smart growth principles such as land use, planning, transportation, placemaking, or economic development. We deeply believe that improving racial disparities is at the core of a smart growth approach, and the Communications Associate will play a key role … Continued

Careers

Power of Place: Reimagining Vermont’s State Designation Programs

Smart Growth America is working with a team of practitioners and leaders with deep knowledge of state and local land use policy to reform Vermont’s state designation programs that guide development and state investment priorities for revitalization. This project offers an exciting opportunity to support livable, walkable, thriving communities with a range of attainable housing … Continued

Land Use and Development Technical assistance

Takeaways from the Best Complete Streets Policies 2023 Webinar

Last month, Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition hosted the Best Complete Streets Policies 2023 Webinar. We heard directly from four advocates and practitioners who helped pass some of the strongest Complete Streets policies of the past four years in communities across the country. Read on for the final takeaways from our … Continued

Complete Streets