Seeking state elected officials to be champions for Complete Streets

Applications are open for a brand new technical assistance opportunity for state elected officials to gain the knowledge and strategy needed to effectively advocate for safer and more Complete Streets. Building on our local Champions Institute program, the first ever State Legislator Champions Institute will also help position participants to make the best use of the influx of funds from the infrastructure law, make their communities more competitive for federal grants, and more.

Complete Streets Technical assistance

The Mountains Are Calling: Placemaking and Redevelopment in Elkins, West Virginia

  Elkins, West Virginia has been working to revitalize their downtown, a challenge in any circumstance, but especially in a rural Appalachian town. The workshop with Smart Growth America shared expertise and provided site-specific advice to aid local officials and community members in placemaking. The SGA team visited Elkins for two days where they participated … Continued

Economic development Resilience Rural Development Technical assistance

Four states selected for the 2022 Complete Streets Leadership Academies

The National Complete Streets Coalition is pleased to announce the selection of California, Connecticut, and Tennessee for Complete Streets Leadership Academies. In these Academies, three local jurisdictions in each state will learn about Complete Streets, explore new ways to coordinate with their state DOTs, and then plan and implement “quick-build” temporary demonstration projects on state-owned roads.

Complete Streets DOT Innovation Technical assistance Transportation

Meeting resident needs in the North End of Newport

Smart Growth America and the North End Local Advocacy Group co-created the North End Equitable Development Strategy (NEEDS) to serve as a roadmap for equitable development in the North End neighborhood of Newport, Rhode Island.  The NEEDS evolved over months of collaboration and is intended to advance policy changes that will make their neighborhood a … Continued

Technical assistance

Equity Forum Recap: Technical Assistance Workshops

The Equity Forum: Upending Cultural Displacement held on July 13th also included the first-of-its-kind live technical assistance workshops with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the community of Royal, Florida, who were selected to receive expert advice from our panelists and selected SGA staff members. The workshop sessions were an open discussion about each … Continued

Events Technical assistance

Conversations on economic adjustment and resilience in the context of nuclear decommissioning

A program of Smart Growth America (SGA), the Nuclear Communities team supports nuclear host communities through building capacity and developing resiliency plans, gathering a wealth of information and perspectives along the way. While each host community has its own unique set of circumstances, they all have one thing in common: preparation is needed to be … Continued

Economic development Events Technical assistance Uncategorized

The power of economic diversification in our communities

Beyond the devastating effects on a community, economic disasters can present an opportunity for change by highlighting a risky over-dependence on a single industry sector and motivating local leaders and planners to invest in the long-term resiliency of their community. Our work on the economic development team at Smart Growth America seeks to strengthen local economies through diversification—one of the most effective ways to increase long-term economic resilience.

Economic development Technical assistance

SGA is partnering with T-Mobile to assist rural communities

In a unique partnership focused on bringing vital connections to rural America, Smart Growth America is helping T-Mobile give one small community a prize package worth $3 million as well as millions in smaller grants for hundreds of other rural and small town communities to reinvest in their downtowns, improve their quality of life, become … Continued

Rural Development Technical assistance

Addressing the challenges and opportunities of the departure of a large local employer

How can communities build an economic recovery in the wake of the departure of a major employer? Our Technical Assistance for Nuclear Communities program heard from a few local leaders who have faced that challenge, and they shared some of the fundamental lessons and best practices that can help communities address many types of economic shock.

Resilience Technical assistance Uncategorized