“Greening the Streetscape: Complete Streets & Stormwater Management” webinar recap

This month we closed out the first half of our monthly webinar series with “Greening the Streetscape: Complete Streets & Stormwater Management.” To learn more, view the recording of the webinar above, download the PDF of the presentation, or read the full recap below.

Complete Streets

2017 Federal Financing Toolkit

Note: The 2017 Federal Financing is no longer for sale, but you can purchase a copy of the updated 2019 Federal Financing Toolkit here. As demand for smart growth development rises across the country, real estate developers and investors as well as local elected officials are looking for innovative approaches to finance these complex projects. … Continued

LOCUS

Complete Streets News – July 2017

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MACOG launches a new, unified approach to Complete Streets — We’re working alongside the Michiana Area Council of Governments to provide technical assistance to communities throughout the Michiana region. For the first time, we are helping an MPO run a competitive application process for Complete Streets workshops on policy development and implementation. To kick off this work, we traveled to North Central Indiana to meet with local leaders. Read more about our experiences and this new model for technical assistance.

Complete Streets

Congress hears testimony on why TIFIA is so important, and how it can be improved

On July 12, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a full committee hearing entitled, “The Use of TIFIA and Innovative Financing in Improving Infrastructure to Enhance Safety, Mobility, and Economic Opportunity.”

The hearing focused on the nation’s enormous need for infrastructure investment, and how Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loans can help meet it. Christopher Coes, Vice President for Real Estate Policy and External Affairs, joined the hearing to testify.

Advocacy LOCUS

Acres of innovative manufacturing potential in Lowell, MA

If you think manufacturing still needs to be exiled to large, polluting, isolated factories, think again. Many of today’s manufacturing spaces are small, clean, shared among multiple firms, and integrated with other land uses. And communities across the country are creating space for these businesses in downtown neighborhoods, and making them part of a place-based approach to economic development.

Small-scale producers and manufacturers can boost local economies by creating new jobs for workers with a wide range of skill sets. When these companies are located in a downtown, however, their economic impact multiplies. These businesses can bring life to vacant industrial properties or storefronts and catalyze broader neighborhood investment. They can also help attract visitors by fostering a community of creative producers.

Technical assistance

Join us for a crash course on federal TOD financing programs

Many transit-oriented development projects are made possible with the help of financing from federal government programs. The details of those programs, however, are tougher to understand. What programs might your development project be eligible for? What time of year do applications open, and when are awards announced? And what do some of the most popular programs look for in applications?

Join us on Thursday, July 20, 2017 at 1:00 PM EDT for a free webinar that will answer all these questions and more. “A crash course on federal TOD financing programs” will provide an overview of programs available through USDOT, HUD, and EPA to help municipal leaders, real estate developers, and transit agency staff create more development near transit stations.

Economic development Events LOCUS

Now hiring: Content Associate

Communities across the country are creating vibrant downtowns, revitalized historic spaces, streets that are safe for walking and biking, and transportation systems that keep local economies running. Smart Growth America advocates for the policies that make these places possible.

We’re looking for a Content Associate to bring the stories of these places to our digital audiences. The Associate will be responsible for creating written and visual content that works on our website, in email blasts, and on social media. The portfolio will potentially include reports, blog posts, graphics, email blast language, technical memos, and social media assets on a rage of topics related to neighborhood development and transit-oriented development in particular. This is an opportunity to contribute to the voice of the organization, communicated directly with supporters, and gain valuable hands-on production experience.

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“Rethinking First & Last Mile: Transit-Driven Complete Streets” webinar recap

On June 29 we hosted “Rethinking First & Last Mile: Transit-Driven Complete Streets”, the fifth installment in our monthly webinar series, Implementation & Equity 201: The Path Forward to Complete Streets. A recording of the webinar is now available above. You can also download the PDF of the presentation, or read the brief recap below.

Complete Streets