SGA technical assistance Archives - Page 10 of 20

Recorded webinar: Everything you want to know about applying for our 2016 free technical assistance workshops

By Sean Geygan · October 6, 2015

If you are interested in applying for Smart Growth America’s 2016 free technical assistance workshops — but weren’t able to join us for last week’s informational webinar — you’re in luck. An archived version of the presentation is now available.

Watch the archived webinar

	Click here to view the archived webinar
	Click here to download the presentation (PDF)

On September 30, Smart Growth America hosted webinar where we discussed the details of applying for next year’s free workshops. Roger Millar, now former Director of Smart Growth America’s Technical Assistance Program, provided an overview of our 12 workshop types, and answered questions about the application process.

With vision for a more walkable downtown, Alcoa, TN digs in to its zoning codes

By Sean Geygan · September 30, 2015

alcoa Chris Duerksen (left) and Roger Millar (right) lead Alcoa, TN’s technical assistance workshop on smart growth zoning for small cities.

The aluminum industry brought jobs and new residents to Alcoa, TN over the last 100 years. Now the city is working to evolve and remain vibrant for 100 years to come. An update to the city’s development and zoning codes is one way they’re making that happen.

To get that project off the ground, the City of Alcoa and the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) welcomed Smart Growth America and Clarion Associates for a technical assistance workshop on September 1 and 2, 2015. Roger Millar, Smart Growth America’s Vice President of Technical Assistance, and Chris Duerksen, Clarion’s Senior Counsel, met Alcoa leaders and community members to talk about smart growth zoning codes for small cities. The workshop was designed to show how zoning code changes can help create vibrant town centers within small cities, as well as how more compact, walkable development can boost the local economy and reduce public expenses.

Technical assistance Alcoa Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Grant codes EPA TA Knoxville local SGA technical assistance Smart growth zoning codes for small cities states Tennessee zoning

Applications now being accepted for Smart Growth America’s 2016 free technical assistance workshops

By Smart Growth America · September 23, 2015

epa-ta-2016
A participant asks a question at a Smart Growth America technical assistance workshop in Alcoa, TN earlier this year.

Is your city interested in smart growth, but not sure how to make it happen? Bring in the development experts with one of Smart Growth America’s 2016 free technical assistance workshops.

Each year Smart Growth America offers a limited number of free workshops to help local leaders and residents make their communities more livable, sustainable, and vibrant. Now in its fifth year, this program helps communities find solutions to local development issues, so that participating communities are able to grow in ways that benefit residents and businesses while protecting the environment and preserving a sense of place. Over 50 communities have already received Smart Growth America’s assistance through this program.

Technical assistance SGA technical assistance

Knoxville, TN welcomes Smart Growth America for workshop on transit-oriented development

By Sean Geygan · August 11, 2015

knoxville-tn Knoxville wants to build on the success of places like Market Square (above). Photo via.

Downtown Knoxville, TN, is seeing a resurgence. New businesses and residents are moving to the area, and the City is working hard to bring similar success to neighborhoods throughout the city. Could investments in public transportation help?

To help answer that question, leaders in Knoxville welcomed Smart Growth America on July 15 and 16, 2015 for a technical assistance workshop on transit-oriented development. Chris Zimmerman, Smart Growth America’s Vice President of Economic Development, and Dena Belzer, President of Strategic Economics, spoke with elected leaders, municipal staff, representatives from regional and state agencies, and Knoxville residents about how investment in public transit could multiply the city’s economic development successes.

Technical assistance Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Grant EPA TA Implementing TOD 101 Knoxville SGA technical assistance Tennessee

Leveraging community history and scenic location for economic and fiscal resilience in Fort Pierre, SD

By Sean Geygan · July 29, 2015

fort-pierre Clockwise from left: Fireworks on Fort Pierre’s riverfront, a visiting pow wow, and homes on canals connected to the Missouri River. Photos via the South Dakota Department of Tourism.

Fort Pierre, SD – population 2,078 – is approaching its bicentennial in 2017 and it’s a place where locals say, “history here is close enough to touch.” With plans in the works to revitalize its downtown and riverfront, the City is working to make sure it’s well positioned for the next 200 years, too.

To aid in that effort Mayor Gloria Hanson and other city leaders welcomed Smart Growth America’s technical assistance team on July 22 and 23, 2015 for a two-day workshop on how smart growth development strategies can help Fort Pierre grow more financially stable and successful.

Technical assistance Building Blocks Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Grant Building Blocks: Planning for Economic and Fiscal Health Economic Development EPA EPA TA EPA's Foundations for Smart Growth technical assistance Fort Pierre Planning for Economic and Fiscal Health SGA technical assistance South Dakota Workshops

Changing zoning codes to make Charlottesville, VA more vibrant and sustainable

By Kevin Wender · May 14, 2015

Downtown Pedestrian Mall in Charlottesville, VA. Photo by Abi Bhattachan via Flickr.

Charlottesville, VA has ambitious plans to grow its economy while becoming a healthier, more sustainable place to live. In 1998, Charlottesville and surrounding Albemarle County adopted Sustainability Accords and in 2013 completed a regional livability plan. These plans have put forth an ambitious vision and to help achieve those goals, Charlottesville brought in some expert help.

On April 28 and 29, 2015, a technical assistance team from Smart Growth America visited Charlottesville to conduct a Sustainable Land Use Code Audit workshop. Our instructors met with community members to review key portions of the zoning code and to identify zoning changes that could help the city become more sustainable, healthy, and economically vibrant.

Technical assistance Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Grant Building Blocks: Sustainable Land Use Code Audit Charlottesville EPA TA SGA technical assistance Sustainable Land Use Code Audit Virginia

Cheyenne Metropolitan Planning Organization focuses on long-term development goals during Smart Growth America workshop

By Kevin Wender · April 29, 2015

Downtown Cheyenne, WY. Photo via Flickr.

Cheyenne, WY is working to grow in ways that support the community’s economy as well as the quality of life for residents, and as part of that work the Cheyenne Metropolitan Planning Organization welcomed experts from Smart Growth America on April 21 and 22, 2015 for a “Planning for Economic and Fiscal Health” technical assistance workshop.

Cheyenne-area residents joined the workshop’s first day for an introductory presentation that featured an overview of the relationship between how a community grows and the health of its economy and local finances.

Technical assistance Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Grant Building Blocks: Planning for Economic and Fiscal Health Cheyenne EPA TA Planning for Economic and Fiscal Health SGA technical assistance Wyoming

Since the workshop: Region-wide prosperity is collaborative effort in Graham County, NC

By Kevin Wender · April 16, 2015

graham-county-nc A new regional vision will help Graham County, NC and its neighbors work together to achieve shared goals.

In April 2013, Smart Growth America traveled to Graham County, NC to hold a “Smart Growth 101” workshop for county staff. The workshop was designed to provide an introduction to smart growth development strategies, including ideas about how the county could work with other jurisdictions in the region to achieve its long-term goals.

This past January that work took a big step forward with the release of Opt-In SWNC: The Regional Vision. The report was authored by the Southwestern North Carolina Planning and Economic Development Commission, which represents a seven-county region in southwest North Carolina that includes Graham County.

Technical assistance Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Grant Building Blocks: Implementing Smart Growth 101 EPA TA Graham County North Carolina SGA technical assistance Smart Growth 101

Bentonville, AR workshop will inform the city’s comprehensive plan update

By Kevin Wender · April 16, 2015

Smart Growth America staff lead a technical assistance workshop in Bentonville, AR. Photo courtesy of the City of Bentonville.

Smart Growth America traveled to Bentonville, AR on April 1 and 2, 2015, to hold a workshop for city staff on “Planning for Economic and Fiscal Health.” The workshop, which was part of our 2015 free technical assistance program, was designed to help Bentonville plan for development in ways that support long term prosperity.

Bentonville is just beginning the process of updating the city’s comprehensive plan, which will guide development in the city for years to come. City officials will use what they learned in this month’s workshop to inform their work on the comprehensive plan moving forward. Bentonville was one of just 14 communities nationwide awarded a free workshop as part of this competitive program.

Technical assistance Arkansas Bentonville Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Grant Building Blocks: Planning for Economic and Fiscal Health EPA TA Planning for Economic and Fiscal Health Planning for fiscal and economic health SGA technical assistance

Person County, NC plans for residential and economic growth

By Clare Healy · January 23, 2015

Uptown Roxboro, NC. Picture via Roxboro Development Group.

Person County, NC’s community’s workshop goal: “To help local leaders and community members identify how Person County can manage growth and economic development in such a way that our strategies for these two issues complement one another and both contribute to the vision set forth for Person County in the Person Futures Strategic Plan.”

On December 2 and 3, representatives from Smart Growth America (SGA) met with county and municipal leaders and residents to provide assistance under the Planning for Fiscal and Economic Health tool, supported by a grant from the U.S. EPA’s Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program.

Technical assistance Blog Building Blocks Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Grant Building Blocks: Planning for Economic and Fiscal Health EPA EPA TA EPA's Foundations for Smart Growth technical assistance North Carolina Person County Planning for Economic and Fiscal Health SGA technical assistance Workshops

SGA technical assistance

Smart Growth America’s technical assistance team has delivered workshops and support to communities all over the country. Learn more about our past work here:

Watch the archived webinar