A path forward in Florida: Resilience to flooding and economic growth

As part of our Climate & Land Use Technical Assistance Program, we worked with Florida-based community organization, Incubate Neighborhood Center (INC), to raise awareness about the ways that climate change is impacting their community’s infrastructure, insurance rates, and economic opportunity. In this video, business owners, government officials, and regional resilience partners talk about how flooding … Continued

Climate Change Technical assistance

How historic land use policies lead to flooding disasters in communities of color

Discriminatory land use policies, like urban renewal, restrictive lending, Euclidean zoning, and redlining, sabotaged wealth-building in Black and Brown communities, entrenched racial segregation, and institutionalized disinvestment in communities of color across the U.S. These inequities leave many Americans more vulnerable to the effects of climate change, meaning that increased flooding disproportionately impacts communities of color … Continued

Uncategorized

Looking for policies for our Best Complete Streets Policies report

The National Complete Streets Coalition is gearing up for their 2025 Best Complete Streets Policies report. This report will recognize communities across the country that are working to make their streets safer, healthier, and more equitable. It will also provide guidance and good practices for other communities that would like to adopt or strengthen their … Continued

Complete Streets

Applications are open for the 2025 Champions Institute

Smart growth strategies help towns and cities across the country become healthier while improving resiliency and sustainability. With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Active People, Healthy Nation Initiative, Smart Growth America’s Champions Institute provides mayors, city councilors, tribal chairpeople and councilors, and other local elected officials with knowledge and resources to … Continued

Complete Streets Technical assistance

The US could catch up to an international safety standard, but bold action is still needed

While the number of people hit and killed while walking is declining across the world, the US is the only developed nation with an increasing number of pedestrian deaths year after year. In 2022, 7,522 people were hit and killed while walking. Now, we’re trying to play catch up by adopting a decades-old UN rule that falls short of necessary common-sense pedestrian safety measures.

Advocacy Complete Streets Transportation

Meet the cohort of the Massachusetts Champions’ Institute

Smart Growth America and Transportation for Massachusetts are launching a statewide program to equip elected officials from across Massachusetts to effectively advocate for and support safer and more complete streets in their communities. Today, we are excited to announce the 15 participants of the first-ever Massachusetts Champions’ Institute.

Complete Streets

How to avoid displacement and four other lessons from our 15 Community Connectors

Community Connectors is SGA’s program to help equip leaders in 15 small and mid-sized communities to repair the damage of divisive infrastructure. A few weeks ago, members from all 15 teams gathered in Washington DC to receive some extra technical assistance on two challenges that had emerged over the last 18 months of the program: … Continued

Advancing Racial Equity Economic development Events Technical assistance

Request for proposals: Community of practice design and facilitation

Smart Growth America (SGA) is seeking proposals from qualified firms or individuals to provide program design and facilitation services in support of a community of practice focused on culture, design, engagement, and federally funded infrastructure projects from December 2024 to November 2025. Services include project design, planning, implementation, and community of practice facilitation services. The … Continued

Advancing Racial Equity Arts and Culture