Sprawl or smart growth: the future of Opportunity Zones

The newly created Opportunity Zones program will likely go down as the largest and most significant federal community development initiative in U.S. history, with trillions of dollars in new private investment about to start flowing into pre-designated low-income communities around the country.

Advocacy Economic development LOCUS

Washington State Department of Transportation to be the first statewide agency to host an artist-in-residence


Washington will become the first state to embed an artist in a statewide agency, bringing a creative approach to advancing the agency’s goals like improving safety, reducing congestion, promoting economic vitality, supporting multimodal transportation systems, and creating healthier communities.

Creative Placemaking Transportation

Downtown Las Vegas: “The legend reinvented”


After two years of robust education and community engagement, the City of Las Vegas is ready to implement their downtown master plan, using a new a form-based zoning code. The city credits our Form-Based Codes Institute’s comprehensive three-course curriculum for helping to achieve this first-of-a-kind achievement in Nevada, which city officials believe will lead to a compact, vibrant downtown to support future growth.

Form-Based Codes Uncategorized

Complete Streets Consortium Series: Engaging the community in Arvada


After learning about Complete Streets policies in April and exploring first-mile/last-mile connections in June, the teams from our Colorado Consortium Series reconvened in Arvada, CO for one final workshop all about engaging the community.

Complete Streets Technical assistance

Better together: zoning (reform) and smart growth


Smart Growth America continually pursues new angles to broaden its ability to create strong communities. By adding the Form-Based Codes Institute (FBCI) to its growing arsenal of programs, SGA can bring more comprehensive assistance to communities by addressing the regulatory framework that often limits smart growth—the zoning code.

Form-Based Codes

Looking back at what we’ve accomplished


Thanks to support from the Economic Development Administration, Smart Growth America and Recast City are pleased to provide a second round of small-scale manufacturing technical assistance. Homegrown maker economies are emerging in all corners of the nation and show no signs of slowing. Cities are supporting various businesses that fall under the umbrella of small-scale manufacturing—metalworking, woodworking, screen printing, and brewing to name a few—by crafting supportive policies, reworking their zoning, and initiating workforce training programs.

Economic development Technical assistance