Airway Heights, WA is a city shaped by fast-moving traffic and car-centric design—but it’s also one of many communities pushing back against streets that prioritize speed over safety. With recent pedestrian fatalities underscoring the stakes, the city is taking steps to make its roads safer and more equitable for everyone who uses them. Background Airway … Continued
The comprehensive tax package passed by the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives includes a renewal and extension of the Opportunity Zone tax incentive (OZs). Don’t miss your opportunity to tell Congress to prioritize transparency and affordability in an extension of the OZ program! What are Opportunity Zones? The Opportunity Zones tax incentive is a tool … Continued
Over the past three years, Smart Growth America (SGA) has worked with the City of Monroe, Louisiana to improve connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists in a previously underinvested downtown neighborhood. Monroe’s participation in SGA’s Champions Institute in 2022 led to ongoing engagements, including in-person technical assistance, access to in-person convenings, grant support, and advice on … Continued
The National Brownfields Coalition and the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) hosted a webinar last week on understanding federal brownfields policy, advocacy, and funding in 2025. Attendees heard from Kennedy O’Dell, Senior Manager of Advocacy at Smart Growth America, and Jean Hamerman, Executive Director of CCLR, who explained the history of the brownfields program … Continued
Background Smart Growth America (SGA) is seeking one to three mission-aligned organizations to share space within our high-quality office at 1350 I (“Eye”) Street NW, next to Franklin Square and the McPherson Square Metro station. SGA is a national non-profit organization advancing policy change in transportation and land use to create thriving, well-connected communities. SGA … Continued
The Center for Zoning Solutions’ hosted a webinar on how zoning regulations can impact a community’s climate efforts. Attendees heard from Jeff Roberts, the Director of Zoning and Development on the City of Cambridge’s Climate Resilient zoning measures, Bridge Rauch, a Community Organizer from Clean Air Coalition of Western New York on their coalition’s work … Continued
Major tax legislation is an opportunity for Congress to incentivize and unleash investment in housing and development through the tax code—are they taking the action the country so critically needs? The Republican-controlled Congress passed a sweeping budget resolution in April that allowed them to begin drafting the changes to the tax code that will shape … Continued
As part of the Complete Streets Leadership Academy in Kentucky, Smart Growth America traveled to Winchester, KY to host an in-person workshop, bringing together local teams from Winchester, Morehead, and Bowling Green and partners from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). Participants learned more about implementing quick-build demonstration projects, conducted a walk audit of Winchester’s project … Continued
Join LOCUS and an exciting selection of guest speakers, who together, will dive into a series of webinars on how to finance and build missing middle housing, how to utilize the federal Opportunity Zone tax incentive to build residential units, and how to utilize creative financing approaches to facilitate projects that meet urgent community needs. … Continued
Pedestrian fatalities have seen a 75 percent spike since 2010. Communities need to take urgent action to slow cars, improve crossings, and create streets that prioritize safety over speed. Unfortunately, more and more are facing unnecessary barriers from state governments as they put questionable limits on the types of funding, street design changes, and other … Continued