DOTs across the country are looking for innovative and flexible ways to meet users’ needs in ways that cost less to build and maintain. Accelerating Practical Solutions is an opportunity for six state DOTs to win a one-day workshop with our expert transportation staff.
Vibrant, walkable neighborhoods can help attract new residents and jobs, support existing businesses, and benefit everyone’s quality of life. We’re excited to announce an in-person event exploring how these strategies are working in two particular cities—and how communities anywhere can use this approach.
Many cities and towns recognize that their parking requirements and regulations are outdated, but they struggle in taking the first step toward reform. This process often begins by auditing the existing supply and understanding how it’s being used, which can be a major undertaking. On July 12, 2017, State Smart Transportation Initiative hosted a webinar … Continued
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.
Smart Growth America is now hiring a paid Policy Intern to support programs within our Policy Development & Implementation team, which focuses on relationships between smart growth strategies and the economic and fiscal health of communities. This person will assist in research and analysis projects, develop materials to support technical assistance engagements, and provide day-to-day administrative and logistical support. This position may also assist with preparing grant progress reports, writing content for our newsletter and blog, and providing short-term assistance to other programs as required. This position reports to Smart Growth America’s Vice President for Economic Development.
On July 10, the House Appropriations Committee introduced its version of the fiscal year 2018 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development spending bill. The bill includes funding for the Department of Transportation (USDOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and other related agencies. In total, the bill reflects an allocation of $56.5 billion in discretionary spending — $1.1 billion below fiscal year 2017 levels and $8.6 billion above the President’s request.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Transportation for America (T4America) — a program of Smart Growth America – is seeking a highly skilled and motivated individual with deep knowledge, experience and interest in transportation policy development and state or local level implementation to help lead the organization’s policy work.
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.