Dauphin County officials and local residents met with representatives from Smart Growth America on September 18 and 19, 2013 as part of a free, grant-funded technical assistance program. The workshop helped the community envision smart growth strategies in the context of Dauphin County, an area with varying levels of development density. It also helped to inform the county’s comprehensive planning process.
“We are excited about the opportunity to host this free, grant-funded technical assistance program in Dauphin County,” said Dauphin County Board of Commissioners’ Chairman Jeff Haste. “The goal is to develop local solutions to help our community grow in ways that will provide benefits now and for generations to come.”
“This workshop will give us more tools to leverage community assets and plan for our future,” said Dauphin County Commissioner Mike Pries. “Dauphin County is very diverse, encompassing not only the capital city, but also suburban and rural areas. We look forward to working with Smart Growth America to discuss innovative strategies that fit our unique region.”
“This is a tremendous opportunity to engage residents and local leaders in creating an action plan for sustainable growth that is beneficial for our region,” Dauphin County Commissioner George P. Hartwick, III added. “We encourage leaders to register for this workshop and join the discussion.”
On September 18, Dauphin County residents gathered for an introductory presentation that featureed a broad overview of smart growth and how to implement local strategies for housing and transportation choice in the county’s urban, suburban and rural communities.
In November 2012, Dauphin County was one of 22 communities selected by Smart Growth America to participate in the free technical assistance program. Stretching from Maine to Washington State, these communities represent major cities, suburban centers, and rural towns alike.
The technical workshop program is made possible through a five-year Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Sustainable Communities, which seeks to develop local planning solutions that help communities grow in ways that benefit families and businesses, while protecting the environment and preserving a sense of place. Three other nonprofit organizations—Forterra, Global Green USA and Project for Public Spaces—also received competitively awarded grants this year to help communities get the kinds of development they want.
Workshop Materials: