Our economic development team at work in Douglas, Arizona

We’re spending the rest of this summer talking about our data-driven, equity-focused approach to economic development and producing prosperous, resilient places—from the team that makes it happen. Catch up with the full series of posts, essays, and reports on this page. The economic development team at SGA often works with communities to identify strategies for … Continued

Economic development

Powerful new tool for helping local communities evaluate the potential benefits of Complete Streets projects

Today, the National Complete Streets Coalition and Smart Growth America are launching a new site to help local communities better model and evaluate the potential benefits of Complete Streets projects—measuring and proving their many economic, health, environmental, equity, and safety benefits—without ever turning over a shovel.

Complete Streets

Meet the new folks at Smart Growth America

We’ve had more than a few people join the Smart Growth America team in 2021. Read on to hear their backgrounds, why they think a smart growth approach matters, and maybe even pick up a book or podcast recommendation.

Advocacy

Work with the third Complete Streets Consortium Series wraps up in Missouri

The National Complete Streets Coalition completed work with Missouri-based partners for the third Complete Streets Consortium Series, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Active People, Healthy Nation (SM) Initiative. The City of Kirkwood, City of Joplin, and Eastern Jackson County in Missouri have been participating in virtual workshop series—pivoted from in-person due to the COVID-19 crisis—over 18 months to develop safer, more equitable streets.

Complete Streets

The Champions Institute is back—meet the 20 local leaders joining the new cohort

The Active People, Healthy Nation℠ Champions Institute—launched in 2020—is our initiative to equip a hand-picked group of elected officials to effectively advocate for and support safer and more complete streets in their communities. Today, we are proud to announce the second cohort of champions: 20 local elected officials who will receive comprehensive training to help them become champions in their communities to promote activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations.

Complete Streets

Join our webinar to hear about the Arts & Transportation Rapid Response projects.

The Arts & Transportation Rapid Response is an initiative for transportation agencies looking to creatively and quickly address pandemic-related transportation challenges. Earlier this year, Smart Growth America in partnership with Forecast Public Art selected three artists to work in tandem with partner transit agencies to design and implement projects that address pandemic-related transit challenges and … Continued

Creative Placemaking Transportation

SGA partners with North End community members to create equitable development plan

At the beginning of 2021, Smart Growth America began working with residents in the North End neighborhood of Newport, Rhode Island to create an equitable development strategy for the community, which is in the path of significant new development. To mitigate displacement and ensure that residents benefit from major public and private investments, the Smart Growth America team is working with local leaders to define a community-based vision, build capacity, and create advocacy strategies.

Economic development