Financing community growth and sparking prosperity: Five housing projects CDFI financing has made possible

On Friday, March 14th, the Trump Administration released a new executive order calling for a reduction in personnel and operations at the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) to the bare minimum required by law. In the 30 years since the authorizing legislation was passed, CDFIs have become an essential pillar of community development … Continued

Economic development Land Use and Development

The National Brownfields Coalition testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment in support of EPA Brownfields programs

On Tuesday, March 11th, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment held a hearing focused on brownfields and economic revitalization in preparation for considering reauthorizing EPA’s brownfields programs. The National Brownfields Coalition was represented by Christa Stoneham, the CEO of the Houston Land Bank, who spoke about the value of EPA’s brownfields programs … Continued

Advocacy Land Use and Development

Reinvigorating Opportunity Zones to deliver housing and smart growth

The Trump-era Opportunity Zone tax incentive brought capital gains into community development in a new way. With Congress poised to consider extending the program in a tax package, it is an opportune time to highlight high-impact reforms that could help the tool better deliver much-needed homes, especially in locations with good access to jobs and … Continued

Advocacy LOCUS

Budget reconciliation: Smart growth implications

The coming months represent a pivotal window for the future of many government programs as well as projects that rely on tax credits or federal grants. The outcome of ongoing Congressional discussions about the esoteric budget reconciliation process could shape our communities for the next several decades. LOCUS, Smart Growth America’s coalition of real estate … Continued

Land Use and Development LOCUS