This page provides Sustainable Communities Initiative (SCI) resources that focus on performance measurement and outcomes.
Broadband-Communications Plan for Glens Falls, NY
This report highlights the missed opportunities that limited broadband and wireless communications presents in this rural region. The study inventories and maps existing broadband availability noting that broadband and cell phone coverage is increasingly central to economic development, entrepreneurship and job creation in the region.
Date Published: June 2015
Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (RPSD) for Northwest Region, VT
This regional plan for sustainable development provides a framework for the economic, social and environmental factors that influence and sustain growth and development in rural northwest Vermont.
Date Published: July 2015
Granite State Future: Statewide Snapshot
This report provides a compilation of the nine regional plans, numerous statewide technical studies, and the robust outreach efforts conducted at the state and regional level to presents the citizens of New Hampshire with the relative priorities of different subjects across the state.
Date Published: June 2015
Green Infrastructure and the Sustainable Communities Initiative
This report provides a broad overview of the principles and benefits of green infrastructure, as well as 30 case studies detailing the green infrastructure development undertaken by Sustainable Communities Initiative grantees.
Date Published: February 2015
Leveraging Anchor Institutions for Economic Inclusion
This brief is an introduction to developing and implementing an anchor strategy that can advance equity and economic inclusion in order to promote regional prosperity. It provides actionable recommendations for federal Economic Resilience and Sustainable Communities grantees and their broad range of regional partners.
Date Published: February 2015
Alternative Fuel Scenario Assessment for Centralina, NC and SC
This guidebook provides thorough information about alternative fuel filling station economics and technical best practices. It provides information on market considerations, analysis of fuel types, financial modeling, permitting and regulatory considerations, and design considerations.
Date Published: January 2015
Sustainable Communities Learning Network Video Series: GROWashington-Aroostook (Maine)
This video series includes interviews with representatives from a handful of the HUD SCI grantee projects who are also NADO members to find out more about the impact these grants have had on their regions
Date Published: January 2015
This case study describes how the Houston-Galveston Area Council used its EDA funds to better position the region for recovery and long-term growth through critical infrastructure investments and support for small businesses.
Date Published: December 2014
Webinar Materials: Working in Rural Communities
This series covers NDRC NOFA requirements as well as specific topics related to climate resilience strategies. On December 15, the "Working in Rural Communities" webinar focused on disaster recovery/resilience issues unique to working in rural communities, including funding resources, community engagement, and rural infrastructure.
Date Published: December 2014
This webinar, held on November 13, 2014, is hosted by the NADO Research Foundation. It addresses the intersection between local food, public health, and regional resilience, by exploring Central Minnesota’s Choose Health program. The Choose Health program is one of several regional initiatives that is growing the region’s local food economy and increasing access to healthy food options for disadvantaged populations.
Date Published: November 2014
Using Green Infrastructure to Meet Clean Water Act Consent Decree Requirements Webinar
This webinar, held on November 12, 2014, discusses how communities are using green infrastructure approaches to address U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) consent decrees to clean up combined sewer overflows (CSOs) – and achieving cost savings and additional community benefits as a result. Josh Rivard from the Center for Infrastructure Research at University of Louisville shares case stories from Louisville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Kansas City, and Saint Louis, and he outlines the basic steps involved in taking this new approach to compliance efforts.
Date Published: November 2014
Fair Housing and Equity Assessment (FHEA) for Sustainable Knowledge Corridor, CT
This report provides an analysis of fair housing and access to opportunity in the greater Hartford, CT/Western MA region. The fair housing and equity assessment analyzes how well regional plans link fair housing considerations with issues of transportation, employment, education, land use planning, and environmental justice and makes recommendations about locations for affordable housing in areas that offer access to opportunity regardless of race, family status, disability, source of income or other personal characteristics protected under federal and state civil rights statutes.
Date Published: October 2014
OER Summer Smarts Webinar: Demonstrating Economic Resilience
This webinar, held on September 29, 2014, demonstrates how pilot SCI grantee projects are demonstrating the concrete value of the planning process.
Date Published: September 2014
Sustainability Toolkit from Pioneer Valley, MA
This toolkit provides technical assistance and resources to help municipalities in the Pioneer Valley, MA region implement their Regional Plan for Sustainable Development by adopting strategies (including model policies, bylaws, and ordinances) to take action on climate change, promote use of clean energy sources, grow smarter, protect their environments, promote food security, and encourage use of green infrastructure.
Date Published: September 2014
Brownfields and Vacant Properties Inventories & Information Systems: Lessons from the Field Webinar
This webinar, held on August 14, 2014, discusses the value and various means of conducting inventories and property condition surveys as well as building information systems around brownfields and vacant properties. Presenters share examples from communities on how to use this data to inform the development and implementation of plans, spur strategic revitalization initiatives, leverage funding, and educate and engage the public.
Date Published: August 2014
Climate Change in Northern New Hampshire: Past, Present, and Future
This report provides historic and projected regional climate change data for the state along with strategies to help Northern NH communities adapt to and mitigate impacts of climate change.
Date Published: August 2014
Climate Change in Southern New Hampshire: Past, Present, and Future
This report provides historic and projected regional climate change data for the state along with strategies to help Southern NH communities adapt to and mitigate impacts of climate change.
Date Published: August 2014
Diesel/Black Carbon Technical Assessment and Feasibility Study for Centralina, NC and SC
This report investigates the environmental and economic impacts of diesel engine exhaust and black carbon emissions that are the result of construction projects. This study yields new tools and resources for municipalities to help mitigate the environmental and human health impacts of these emissions.
Date Published: August 2014
Regional Climate and Energy Plan for Lehigh Valley, PA
This energy and climate element of the Lehigh Valley Comprehensive Plan lays out a strategy for considering a changing climate in its planning, including increased risk of flooding, and its commitment to producing an adaptation plan. It also examines its fuel sources and recommends strategies to increase energy efficiency, including the use of green infrastructure, and diversification of fuel types – including the use of solar energy.
Date Published: August 2014
The Regional Development Organization's Role in Disaster Recovery Webinar
This webinar, held on August 12, 2014, features speakers from three Regional Development Organizations (RDOs) that have been intensively involved in disaster recovery efforts. Presenters share their experiences, lessons learned, and recommendations for other RDOs seeking to engage in recovery work.
Date Published: August 2014
This product is the product of a technical assistance project with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the state of Vermont, and the Mad River Valley Planning District on how communities can recover from flood impacts and become more resilient to future disasters.
Date Published: July 2014
Online Mapping for Residents to view Hazard Potential
This online mapping tool, developed by the California Emergency Management Agency, features the "My Hazards" Web site, to help residents identify and prepare for natural hazards in their locality. The agency hopes that by identifying local risk, residents will increase their knowledge about natural disasters and take up preparedness efforts specific to their risk.
Date Published: May 2014
Best Practices in Local Mitigation Planning
This website, entitled Beyond the Basics is designed to help guide you through the process of developing or updating a local hazard mitigation plan that will meet the requirements for approval by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Date Published: May 2014
This case study describes how four organizations – Greater New Orleans, Inc., The Idea Village, the New Orleans BioInnovation Center, and the Downtown Development District of New Orleans – banded together after the New Orleans region was hit hard by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike and used EDA funding to diversify the economy by capitalizing on its unique competitive advantages, including its vibrant downtown and creative culture.
Date Published: May 2014
This webinar, held on April 24, 2014, features staff at the Center for Hazards Research and Policy Development at the University of Louisville sharing their experience developing a statewide policy and planning framework for resiliency and recovery planning.
Date Published: April 2014
Integrating Water Into Local and Regional Sustainability Planning
This document features case stories of nine Sustainable Communities grant communities that are successfully integrating water into their local and regional sustainability planning efforts. The projects demonstrate ways that water-related challenges and opportunities can be a key part of planning for a region's long-term economic competitiveness, quality of place, and livability.
Date Published: April 2014
Using Community and Economic Development Strategies to Build Disaster Resilient Economies Webinar
This webinar, held on April 8, 2014, features leaders from east central Iowa, Longmont, Colorado, and Springfield, Massachusetts discussing how they are rebuilding and protecting their economic assets, including downtowns and key industries. The presenters discuss targeting growth to safe locations; encouraging walkable, mixed-use design; providing recovery funding and preparedness training to businesses; upgrading infrastructure; encouraging economic diversification; and promoting regional partnerships and coordinated planning.
Date Published: April 2014
Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration in Dane County, WI Streams Report
This scientific report considers the effect of groundwater withdrawal on the flow of streams and rivers. The framework provides a consistent method for evaluating potential flow alterations to balance extractive water uses with ecological requirements.
Date Published: February 2014
Framework for Natural Resources in Northwest Michigan
This Northwest Michigan regional draft framework summarizes issues facing Northwest Michigan’s land and water resources, while highlighting best practices and tools available to protect and preserve the prosperity, economic benefits, and high quality of life provided by the region’s land and water resources. The document provides information on the quality of land and water natural resources, invasive species, and threatened and endangered species
Date Published: January 2014
Our Next Future: An Action Plan for Building a Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Pioneer Valley
This plan provides a vision for a more vibrant, competitive, sustainable and equitable Pioneer Valley region in Western MA. It is designed to achieve success through promoting collaboration of communities on a regional basis.
Date Published: January 2014
Spotlight on Large Urban Counties
This report, from NACo, profiles how large urban counties in the U.S. are driving economic recovery, fostering community resilience and pioneering new approaches to public service.
Date Published: January 2014
Chicago Regional Climate Change Adaptation Toolkit
This toolkit provides climate adaptation resources for jurisdictions within the Chicago metropolitan area.
Date Published: January 2014
This webinar, held on December 13, 2013, contains an overview of HUD’s sustainable housing initiatives, with a focus on new initiatives launched with the President’s Climate Action Plan last summer, including the expansion of the Better Buildings Challenge to include multifamily residential buildings.
Date Published: December 2013
This case study describes how the East Central Iowa Council of Governments used its EDA funding to hire two disaster recovery coordinators and create a revolving loan fund to help businesses purchase property and equipment and access working capital after the devastating floods of 2008.
Date Published: November 2013
Lessons from the Storm: Case Studies on Economic Recovery and Resilience: Southwest Arkansas
This series highlights how regional development organizations have used 2008 disaster recovery funds from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to address the impacts of natural disasters, become more resilient to future events, and increase long-term economic competitiveness and quality of life in their regions. The first case study describes the Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District’s efforts to create a comprehensive database of business and infrastructure information that will help its partner communities prepare for and rebound from future natural disasters.
Date Published: October 2013
Digital Coast: Tools to Promote County Resilience
This guide introduces a resource for coastal counties from NACo. Digital Coast: Tools to Promote County Resilience provides an overview of Digital Coast, a suite of tools to analyze and communicate coastal natural resource management issues. This publication provides background on Digital Coast and describes specific tools available to counties and communities to address needs in three main topic areas.
Date Published: October 2013
Introduction to COAST-a tool for community-led climate adaptation planning Webinar
This webinar, held on September 19, 2013, features Sam Merrill from the New England Environmental Finance Center. He introduces participants to COAST, a free, interactive tool that is being used in communities around the country to evaluate the costs and benefits of various adaptation options to sea level rise and storm surge.
Date Published: September 2013
Increasing the Financial Resiliency of Your Region in a Disaster-Filled World Webinar
This webinar, held on July 19, 2013, helps participants consider their local governments’ financial vulnerability as well as their capacity to respond to future natural disasters based on research and lessons learned responding to tropical natural disasters along the Gulf Coast of the United States. Further, joint financial vulnerabilities between local governments in a region are identified and strategies provided for how individual local governments can increase financial capacity that improves financial resiliency for the overall region.
Date Published: July 2013
Climate Resilience Evaluation & Awareness Tool (CREAT)
Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) is an interactive software tool designed for water and wastewater utilities to assess the risk of potential climate change impacts on their assets, operations, and missions and to develop adaptation plans.
Date Published: May 2012
This guide addresses tools and strategies to reduce the negative consequences of climate change on vulnerable communities. The guide briefly discusses how the tools and strategies could be adapted to assess coastal zones and water resources.
Date Published: March 2012
Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (RPSD) for Northwest Region, VT
This regional plan for sustainable development provides a framework for the economic, social and environmental factors that influence and sustain growth and development in rural northwest Vermont.
Date Published: July 2015
Alternative Fuel Scenario Assessment for Centralina, NC and SC
This guidebook provides thorough information about alternative fuel filling station economics and technical best practices. It provides information on market considerations, analysis of fuel types, financial modeling, permitting and regulatory considerations, and design considerations.
Date Published: January 2015
Envisioning Post Grant Success: 2014 SCI Grantee Convening Webinar
This webinar, held on June 26, 2014, features the next steps for a SCI grantee after developing a vision and identifying goals and strategies. How do you maintain momentum and see great ideas take shape on the ground? How do you maintain the energy created and funnel it toward targeted action? Create a road map for post-grant success by assessing strategic, organizational, capacity, and funding ability in the context of established vision and goals.
Date Published: December 2014
Sustainability Toolkit from Pioneer Valley, MA
This toolkit provides technical assistance and resources to help municipalities in the Pioneer Valley, MA region implement their Regional Plan for Sustainable Development by adopting strategies (including model policies, bylaws, and ordinances) to take action on climate change, promote use of clean energy sources, grow smarter, protect their environments, promote food security, and encourage use of green infrastructure.
Date Published: September 2014
Climate Change in Northern New Hampshire: Past, Present, and Future
This report provides historic and projected regional climate change data for the state along with strategies to help Northern NH communities adapt to and mitigate impacts of climate change.
Date Published: August 2014
Climate Change in Southern New Hampshire: Past, Present, and Future
This report provides historic and projected regional climate change data for the state along with strategies to help Southern NH communities adapt to and mitigate impacts of climate change.
Date Published: August 2014
Public Sites Renewable Energy Feasibility Study for Centralina, NC and SC
This guidebook provides information about the economics and basic technology of renewable energy. It includes descriptions of basic economics, tax incentives, and common deal structures in this industry, and provides six case studies which represent a variety of types of sites and technologies.
Date Published: August 2014
Regional Climate and Energy Plan for Lehigh Valley, PA
This energy and climate element of the Lehigh Valley Comprehensive Plan lays out a strategy for considering a changing climate in its planning, including increased risk of flooding, and its commitment to producing an adaptation plan. It also examines its fuel sources and recommends strategies to increase energy efficiency, including the use of green infrastructure, and diversification of fuel types – including the use of solar energy.
Date Published: August 2014
Framework for Energy in Northwest Michigan
This Northwest Michigan regional energy plan provides a roadmap for a resilient energy future for the region. The plan includes sections on potential resilient energy strategies, current regional energy usage, the major issues affecting energy choices for the region, and initiatives already underway in the public, private, and non-profit sectors to increase resilient energy.
Date Published: January 2014
Orange Low-Impact Development Bylaws and Subdivision Regulations
These bylaws provide the zoning and property code for the Town of Orange, MA.
Date Published: January 2014
This webinar, held on December 13, 2013, contains an overview of HUD’s sustainable housing initiatives, with a focus on new initiatives launched with the President’s Climate Action Plan last summer, including the expansion of the Better Buildings Challenge to include multifamily residential buildings.
Date Published: December 2013
Planning for Livable Military Communities Regional Vision Report, Fort Worth, TX
This regional planning document summarizes key findings from the background studies on market, housing, transportation, and ordinance compatibility issues and highlights opportunities for collaboration among the 5 jurisdictions of the 'Planning for Livable Military Communities' study area surrounding Fort Worth, TX. The report also includes City Comprehensive Plan Visions which feature more specific goals, policies and actions in the core areas of land use, economic development, transportation and housing. These sections are intended as policy guides to assist the Cities of Lake Worth, River Oaks, Sansom Park, Westworth Village, and White Settlement in updating their full comprehensive plans and to complement the overarching strategies identified in the Regional Vision Report.
Date Published: October 2013
Economic Development Strategies for Small and Rural Communities: Ag-Based Renewable Energy Podcast
This podcast details how Kandiyohi County, Minnesota leveraged its agricultural industry and abundant natural resources to cultivate its agriculturally-based renewable energy industry.
Date Published: September 2013
Issue Brief: Introduction to Cargo-Oriented Development
This issue brief focuses on cargo-oriented development, an innovative transportation and land use planning concept that integrates freight, economic development, workforce development, and environmental programs in existing communities.
Date Published: April 2013
Water Conservation and Efficiency Plan for the Village of Oak Park, IL
The plan focuses on water supply issues with the goal of increasing water efficiency and promoting water conservation within village operations and among Oak Park residents and businesses. This plan also provides information on Oak Park's average day usage of water and percent use of their allocation from Lake Michigan.
Date Published: April 2013
Rental Housing Energy Efficiency for Ann Arbor, MI
This report provides an overview of the City's efforts to increase energy efficiency in the community by targeting renters, who unlike homeowners have less of an incentive to invest in energy efficiency. It also provides a strategy and outreach plan that educates the community, uses voluntary, market-based, and policy approaches to spur efficiency investments in the rental housing market.
Date Published: February 2013
2012 Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities Summer Smarts Series
This series features eight sessions for SCI grantees.
Date Published: October 2012
SCI Snapshots: Equitable Development and Equity Strategies
This compilation of brief snapshot entries provides an overview of the best practices in equitable development and equity strategies from the 143 HUD Sustainable Communities Initiative grantees.
Date Published: December 2015
Granite State Future: Statewide Snapshot
This report provides a compilation of the nine regional plans, numerous statewide technical studies, and the robust outreach efforts conducted at the state and regional level to presents the citizens of New Hampshire with the relative priorities of different subjects across the state.
Date Published: June 2015
This webinar, held on November 13, 2014, is hosted by the NADO Research Foundation. It addresses the intersection between local food, public health, and regional resilience, by exploring Central Minnesota’s Choose Health program. The Choose Health program is one of several regional initiatives that is growing the region’s local food economy and increasing access to healthy food options for disadvantaged populations.
Date Published: November 2014
Fair Housing and Equity Assessment (FHEA) for Sustainable Knowledge Corridor, CT
This report provides an analysis of fair housing and access to opportunity in the greater Hartford, CT/Western MA region. The fair housing and equity assessment analyzes how well regional plans link fair housing considerations with issues of transportation, employment, education, land use planning, and environmental justice and makes recommendations about locations for affordable housing in areas that offer access to opportunity regardless of race, family status, disability, source of income or other personal characteristics protected under federal and state civil rights statutes.
Date Published: October 2014
Financing Equitable Transit-Oriented Communities in the Sacramento Region
This report provides recommendations for a framework, operational structure, and financial tools to support an equitable TOD loan fund in Sacramento, CA.
Date Published: July 2014
This toolkit-known as the EDTK-features a suite of 27 tools and links to reverse patterns of segregation and disinvestment, prevent displacement, and promote equitable revitalization.
Date Published: June 2014
Agriculture and Healthy Communities Plan for Glens Falls, NY
This report highlights existing community health conditions, with a focus on availability of local healthy food, with a discussion of trends and vision for the future. The report highlights changing demographics and the growing aging population as well as the importance of value-added agriculture and local food processing to keep more wealth in community.
Date Published: June 2015
Delta Roots - The Mid-South Regional Food Systems Plan for East Arkansas
This food system plan assesses the potential for expanding value-added agriculture and the local food economy in the greater E. Arkansas/Memphis region. This report was a joint product of two HUD regional grantees: Shelby County, TN and E. Arkansas Economic and Development District.
Date Published: May 2015
Agriculture Assessment for Local and Regional Markets for Teton View, ID
This assessment evaluates the potential for developing local and regional agricultural production, processing, and marketing in the four county, Teton, Fremont, Madison (ID), and Teton (WY) counties. The report included analysis of existing conditions through interview, focus groups, surveys and examination of data as well as recommendations for expanding potential.
Date Published: March 2015
Local Food Access Study for Washtenaw County, MI
This report provides an analysis of local food systems. It also provides conclusions and recommendations regarding distribution, community commercial kitchens, and food storage.
Date Published: March 2015
Fresh Food Studies for Lehigh Valley, PA
These documents provide information on how Lehigh Valley is growing its local food economy and includes a Food Economy Assessment and policy recommendations.
Date Published: December 2014
Capitol Region Plan for Conservation and Development
This plan is a general guide for the future conservation and development of the greater Hartford, CT area. Its individual chapters provide an overview of the many factors that influence the regional development pattern, and the choices available as they move into the future.
Date Published: October 2014
Food Systems Assessment for Centralina, NC and SC
This guide provides information about a process for community engagement for use by municipal and county officials seeking to increase wealth and strengthen community development by building and supporting local and regional food systems. This guide lays out a process for building capacity to take successful action and suggests some areas where actions might be taken first.
Date Published: August 2014
Local Food Implementation Plan for Southwestern, WI - Delicious Driftless Fare Festival
This document summarizes the work required in the months preceding the Delicious Driftless Fare (DDF) event, and which were viewed as necessary for successful replication of the event in future years. The DDF was a one-day event that showcased the region's produce and specialty crop producers and local artistic talent and was part of an overall effort by Grow Southwest to identify and capitalize on local resources, to better produce local energy and food, minimize commutes, and maximize local employment in Grant, Green, Lafayette, Iowa, and Richland counties.
Date Published: March 2014
Framework for Food and Farming in Northwest Michigan
This Northwest Michigan regional food and farming framework is a draft plan to ensure continued viability of the region’s food and farming economy. The plan includes information on agricultural land and production, the farm economy and regional food system, the agricultural workforce, food access and health, and strategies to address local food and farming related issues.
Date Published: January 2014
Sacramento Valley Food HUB Feasibility Study and Cost Estimate
This report provides an initial cost estimate and feasbility analysis for creating a food hub in the Sacramento Valley.
Date Published: October 2013
Local Food District Video for Central Ohio
This video provides information about the triple benefits of the Food District at Weinland Park in Columbus, OH. The video showcases the food district's processing plant that will generate jobs and revenue, the food bank contributions, and the immense community benefits.
Date Published: August 2013
Smaller Places Summit: OpportunityLink Video
This video from the Smaller Places Summit, held on March 5, 2012 - March 7, 2012, features Barbara Stiffarm of OpportunityLink describing their successful rural bus service.
Date Published: March 2012
Urban Farmscapes Report for Central Ohio
This report provides information on different innovative structures and operational plans for local food industries. The report showcases different models for local food production that focus on health, job creation, education, and increased standard of living.
Date Published: October 2011
Food Hub Feasibility Study for Southern Wisconsin
This feasibility study provides information on the market viability for an aggregation, storage, and distribution facility that connects growers in southern Wisconsin to buyers in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. It also provides survey data and recommended next steps.
Date Published: September 2011
Local Food Enterprise Report for South Madison, WI
This market feasibility study provides an analysis of food access and potential commercial grocery opportunities in the Southdale and Indian Springs neighborhoods of Madison, WI. It also provides survey data of residents and recommendations for securing a food enterprise in the area.
Date Published: August 2011
Local Food Business Plan for Central Ohio
This food assessment and plan provides information on all components of a regional food system in 12 central Ohio counties, to make policy recommendations to local governments on food decisions. This assessment is a tool that enables working groups of local practitioners to collect and analyze food and agricultural data to identify resources and connect dots to strengthen the region's economy, coordinate local food efforts, and encourage pro-agriculture policy.
Date Published: April 2010
SCI Snapshots: Federal and State Alignment
This compilation of brief snapshot entries provides an overview of the best practices in federal and state alignment from the 143 HUD Sustainable Communities Initiative grantees.
Date Published: December 2015
Aligning Government Funds with Innovative Revenue Programs Webinar
This webinar, held on January 27, 2015, begins with Enterprise and LIIF providing a brief presentation on the role that government financing can plan play in innovative financing tools and programs. The overview is followed by presentations from various partners who vet investment opportunities and financing tools, launch innovative revenue programs or have achieved planning success as a result of aligning with public agencies.
Date Published: January 2015
Tools to Support Regional Investment Decisions Webinar
This webinar, held on July 19, 2014, features panelists introducing two tools to support regional investment decisions. Setting standards and measurable goals is one key for effective long-term regional plans. Measurable goals and benchmarking allows cities to align investment decisions, prioritize and rank areas for development, focus on utilizing resources effectively, and create “development ready” codes and incentives
Date Published: July 2014
This webinar, held on April 30, 2014, focuses on jobs, which are an important part of sustainable community building efforts everywhere and a challenging area of focus for policy makers and practitioners.
Date Published: April 2014
Thrive MSP 2040 Regional Plan for Sustainable Development
This Thrive MSP 2040 regional plan addresses issues that transcend any one neighborhood, city, or county, as Minneapolis-St. Paul builds and maintains a thriving metropolitan region. The Minneapolis-St. Paul region's investments provide an important economic foundation so all residents of the region can prosper.
Date Published: March 2014
Federal Roundtable Summary for Vision West ND
These slides from the federal partners' roundtable address 5 critical issues in West North Dakota, including childcare, emergency services, housing, transportation, and water.
Date Published: November 2013
Aligning Strategies to Maximize Impact: Case Studies on Transportation and Economic Development
This report features 10 case studies from 11 states, where regional planning and economic development organizations are taking steps to coordinate planning processes and investment strategies, partner with new entities to improve outreach and implementation, document progress through metrics, and communicate results in an engaging way.
Date Published: April 2013
Child Care White Paper for Western North Dakota Energy Project
This white paper provides a review of the childcare problem in the Bakken oil region of North Dakota and considerations for addressing this issue.
Date Published: January 2015
L.A. Metro Takes Big Step Toward Equitable Growth
In this article, Craig Adelman from the Low Income Investment Fund explains how one study helped to grow the momentum toward these actions. L.A. Metro is proposing to work in partnership with local communities to protect and create affordable housing near transit in the name of ridership and the environment. How did L.A. make this happen?
Date Published: January 2015
Public Health Disparities Assessment for Centralina, NC and SC
This report provides critical information about the overall health and well-being of residents of the 14-county region. The report relates health issues and disparities to the overall CONNECT planning process and demonstrates how region-wide health concerns may be integral to addressing region-wide planning issues.
Date Published: November 2014
Justice for All - Challenging Wealth Disparity in the Lehigh Valley, PA
This report, issued by the Water Fountain Project, a task force comprised of leaders of communities of color, outlines the impact of race on educational attainment, asset building, and other quality of life factors in the Leigh Valley. It provides a series of recommendations to reduce these disparities.
Date Published: September 2014
Engagement Tech for All Webinar
This webinar, held on June 26, 2014, describes the latest innovations in the field of civic technology, and the potential for these technologies to advance transformational change in communities, particularly around the lives of low-income people.
Date Published: June 2014
This policy brief by PolicyLink describes how Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) can be used to implement the HUD Fair Housing and Equity Assessment.
Date Published: May 2013
The Case for Mixed-Income Transit-Oriented Development in the Denver Region
This report, which was commissioned by the Enterprise Community Partners of Denver, concludes that there is a growing demand for housing near transit, and a closing window of opportunity to develop it in a sustainable way with mixed-income housing.
Date Published: February 2012
Creating Successful TOD Districts in Los Angeles: A Citywide Toolkit for Achieving Regional Goals
This toolkit assesses which stations are – or are not – supporting transit-oriented characteristics, and identifies strategies and investments that could help station areas achieve higher transit ridership, lower VMT, provide housing for a mix of incomes and guard against displacement, and to create healthy, prosperous neighborhoods where people of all incomes have a multitude of travel options.
Date Published: February 2012
Regional Economic and Workforce Strategy for Destination Erie, PA
This document provides a strategy for regional economic and workforce development in the Erie, PA region. It also provides data on economic conditions and trends for the region.
Date Published: March 2015
Regional Vision Plan for Destination Erie, PA
This document provides a regional plan for Erie County, PA. It also provides economic development strategies for the surrounding region in OH and PA.
Date Published: March 2015
Cultivating a Competitive Advantage in Rural Counties
This report highlights how rural counties are pursuing asset-based economic development initiatives that create jobs and build wealth while preserving rural landscapes, culture, and heritage.
Date Published: November 2014
Our Next Future: An Action Plan for Building a Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Pioneer Valley
This plan provides a vision for a more vibrant, competitive, sustainable and equitable Pioneer Valley region in Western MA. It is designed to achieve success through promoting collaboration of communities on a regional basis.
Date Published: January 2014
Opportunity Maps for Destination Erie, PA
This PowerPoint presentation provides a series of maps supporting the Erie County, PA growth and investment framework.
Date Published: September 2013
Economic and Workforce Development Existing Conditions Report for Destination Erie, PA
This document provides an analysis of regional economic conditions and trends in the Erie County, PA region. It also provides an analysis of trends and projections in the region’s industry clusters and occupations.
Date Published: March 2013
Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (RPSD) for Two Rivers-Ottauquechee, VT
This Regional Plan gives guidance to developers, municipalities and other political subdivisions in the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Region, and the State of Vermont on appropriate development, improvement and conservation of the region's physical and human resources. The plan includes guidance on energy, healthy communities, housing, population change, transportation, natural resources, and implementation. This plan was adopted in July 2017.
Date Published: July 2017
Parramore Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan
The Parramore Neighborhood plan lays out a vision for protecting the integrity and heritage of one of Orlando's oldest African American neighborhoods as the neighborhood is connected to the new SunRail commuter rail, Downtown Orlando and area neighborhoods. With extensive engagement of residents, business owners, and community leaders, this plan recommends actions for encouraging economic growth, redevelopment, and improvements in education, safety, housing and quality of life in this historic community.
Date Published: May 2016
Latino Health Survey for Washtenaw County, MI
This report provides an overview of the County's unique multi-modal methodologies, health equity and social determinant links between health behaviors, physical and mental health care access, social support, social capital, immigration, and other cultural stressors in the Latino community. It also provides a discussion of the jurisdiction's strategy and commitment to community engagement and investment.
Date Published: August 2015
Agriculture and Healthy Communities Plan for Glens Falls, NY
This report highlights existing community health conditions, with a focus on availability of local healthy food, with a discussion of trends and vision for the future. The report highlights changing demographics and the growing aging population as well as the importance of value-added agriculture and local food processing to keep more wealth in community.
Date Published: June 2015
Existing Conditions Report for South Central Kansas Prosperity Plan
This report was part of the baseline analysis phase, designed to highlight issues and trends shaping community development, investment, and resource management decisions within the five-county region of South Central Kansas. The report considers the existing demographics and statistics for workforce amd business development, the built environment, transportation, water, natural resources, and healthy community design.
Date Published: March 2015
Regional Vision Plan for Destination Erie, PA
This document provides a regional plan for Erie County, PA. It also provides economic development strategies for the surrounding region in OH and PA.
Date Published: March 2015
Aging Infrastructure Webinar Series
This webinar, held on December 17, 2014, explores water infrastructure, which is foundational for our health, economic well-being, and quality of life. Unfortunately, it’s widely accepted that America’s water infrastructure is aging faster than we can replace it. The most recent American Society of Civil Engineers Report Card gave our country’s water infrastructure a Grade D.
Date Published: December 2014
This webinar, held on November 13, 2014, is hosted by the NADO Research Foundation. It addresses the intersection between local food, public health, and regional resilience, by exploring Central Minnesota’s Choose Health program. The Choose Health program is one of several regional initiatives that is growing the region’s local food economy and increasing access to healthy food options for disadvantaged populations.
Date Published: November 2014
Enhancing Sustainable Communities with Green Infrastructure
This guide, released by the EPA Office of Sustainable Communities, helps community leaders and stakeholders incorporate green infrastructure strategies into transformative plans for their communities. By highlighting strategies that help manage stormwater while also achieving other environmental, public health, social, and economic benefits, the guide provides a framework for communities to make the most of their limited investments.
Date Published: November 2014
Public Health Disparities Assessment for Centralina, NC and SC
This report provides critical information about the overall health and well-being of residents of the 14-county region. The report relates health issues and disparities to the overall CONNECT planning process and demonstrates how region-wide health concerns may be integral to addressing region-wide planning issues.
Date Published: November 2014
Financing Equitable Transit-Oriented Communities in the Sacramento Region
This report provides recommendations for a framework, operational structure, and financial tools to support an equitable TOD loan fund in Sacramento, CA.
Date Published: July 2014
Framework for Healthy Communities in Northwest Michigan
This Northwest Michigan regional draft framework for healthy communities reviews current health findings, public input, and other data to assess health needs in the region, and identifies ways that local governments and stakeholders can address community health issues. The document provides information on the aging population, health care access, healthy lifestyles, community health and the environment, and strategies to address individual and community health issues.
Date Published: January 2014
A Practitioner's Guide for Advancing Health Equity
This guide is written for public health practitioners and other key related disciplines such as urban planners, local policy makers, etc. working to advance health equity through community health interventions. While health disparities can be addressed at multiple levels, this guide focuses on policy, systems, and environmental improvements designed to improve the places where people live, learn, work, and play.
Date Published: December 2013
Building Capacity: Issue Brief Compilation from Phase I Team Implementation
This issue brief represents a compilation of specific issue area briefs provided by the Implementation team. Each issue brief accompanied a monthly webinar and allowed grantees to gain additional resources on topics such as creating regional TOD plans and strategies, infill infrastructure financing, advancing sustainability in a slow economy, and redeveloping brownfield properties. This document was created for the purpose of providing grantees with a one-stop resource for all issue briefs from Phase I Capacity Building work of Team Implementation.
Date Published: December 2013
Catching the Vision of Vision West ND Webinar
This webinar, held on October 24, 2013, describes the goals and status of Vision West ND, an initiative which covers a 19-county region in North Dakota. The webinar includes information on how Vision West ND is addressing the region's important issues, such as infrastructure, resource management, land use, water/wastewater, education, health care, and public safety.
Date Published: October 2013
This webinar, held July 31, 2013, explores the depths of the Community Health Needs Assessment. There are over 2,900 non-profit hospitals across the United States. As a condition of their tax-exempt status these hospitals are required to invest in surrounding communities, improving public health outcomes through a variety of means. These “community benefit” investments constitute important investments in countless communities.
Date Published: July 2013
Complete Streets Master Plan for Downtown New Britain, CT
This master plan provides a guide for creating a more pedestrian-friendly, attractive and livable environment throughout a downtown area in preparation for the 2015 scheduled opening of a new bus rapid transit project.
Date Published: May 2013
Addressing Equity and Rural Poverty Webinar
This webinar, held on April 16, 2013, highlights the opportunities and challenges small towns and rural communities face in combating poverty and promoting inclusive economic development. Presenters discuss efforts being made to incorporate equity – the just and fair inclusion into society where everyone can participate and prosper – into regional and community economic development plans in California and Tennessee.
Date Published: April 2013
Issue Brief: Incorporating Healthy Community Strategies into the Planning Process
This Issue Brief connects the concepts of healthy communities and community planning. The design of our neighborhoods determines how we get from place to place, where we get our food, where we play, where we seek medical help and how we interact with others. Our access to these opportunities in turns affects our physical and mental health, and evidence is mounting that the built environment has a significant effect on many of our nation’s most severe public health challenges. As a result, the people responsible for planning our communities have found a new ally with public health professionals, and collaborations are forming around the country to integrate health considerations into planning decisions and processes.
Date Published: February 2013
Regional Planning for Transit and TOD Webinar and Issue Brief
This webinar, held on March 21, 2012, describes the challenges the Gulf Regional Planning Commission is facing and how they are using transit and TOD planning to lower housing and transportation costs for residents of the region, and explore how the Twin Cities is leveraging their existing and planned transit network to implement a vision of sustainable, vibrant and healthy communities. This webinar also highlights some of the overarching principles of regional planning for transit and TOD.
Date Published: March 2012
This handbook provides a variety of tools for cities, counties, multi-stakeholder groups, watershed groups, and other interested members of the public to manage or control growth and development for water resource protection. The book identifies the impacts of land use on water quality, water supplies, and the overall health and functioning of watersheds on which all communities -- and all life -- depend.
Date Published: February 2012
Creating Successful TOD Districts in Los Angeles: A Citywide Toolkit for Achieving Regional Goals
This toolkit assesses which stations are – or are not – supporting transit-oriented characteristics, and identifies strategies and investments that could help station areas achieve higher transit ridership, lower VMT, provide housing for a mix of incomes and guard against displacement, and to create healthy, prosperous neighborhoods where people of all incomes have a multitude of travel options.
Date Published: February 2012
Strategic Package of Tools to Promote Transit Oriented Development in Metropolitan Phoenix
This package is a summary of 23 tools that could be offered to the development community to create and enhance vibrant, healthy communities that support light-rail rail. Focused on metropolitan Phoenix, with nationwide application.
Date Published: February 2012
Healthcare Policy Analysis for Central Minnesota
This website explains the health care goals, recommendations, and action steps from Healthcare chapter of the Central Minnesota Sustainable Development Plan and provides links to related programs and full-length documents.
Date Published: January 2012
Data Platform for East Arkansas
This data warehouse is intended for use by East Arkansas area planners to find information on regional characteristics, land uses, trends, and other community data.
Date Published: January 2016
SCI Snapshots: Performance Metrics
This compilation of brief snapshot entries provides an overview of the best practices in performance metrics from the 143 HUD Sustainable Communities Initiative grantees.
Date Published: December 2015
Fair Housing and Equity Assessment (FHEA) Data Portal for Together North Jersey, NJ
This data portal provides a tool for planners, government agencies, NGOs, and the public that provides a common shared data and factual framework for the indicators used in the Regional Fair Housing and Equity Assessment Report (FHEA).
Date Published: August 2015
Planning Field Guides for East Arkansas
These interactive guides cover a variety of planning topics and are intended for use by local governments and community members in East Arkansas to support planning efforts such as workforce development, downtown redevelopment, brownfields restoration.
Date Published: May 2015
Sustainable Communities Learning Network Video Interview Series
This video features a handful of the HUD SCI grantee projects who are also NADO members to find out more about the impact these grants have had on their regions.
Date Published: February 2015
Indicators Dashboard for Henderson, NV (Southern Nevada Strong)
This descriptive list of indicators tied to the goals of Southern Nevada Strong's Regional Plan for Sustainable Development provides information about how the organization plans to measure success of implementation in the future. The list provides ideas for measuring transportation choice, economic competitiveness, complete communities with diverse development types, and public engagement.
Date Published: January 2015
Sustainable Communities Learning Network Video Series: GROWashington-Aroostook (Maine)
This video series includes interviews with representatives from a handful of the HUD SCI grantee projects who are also NADO members to find out more about the impact these grants have had on their regions.
Date Published: January 2015
Livability Index for Central Arkansas
This website provides information on the quality of life in Central Arkansas through a set of performance measurement indicators, including housing, transportation, education, and five other indicators.
Date Published: December 2014
Fair Housing and Equity Assessment (FHEA) Appendices, Data, and Mapping for Madison, WI
This document provides useful background information for the Wisconsin Capital Region Fair Housing and Equity Assessment. It also provides detail on measures of segregation and disparate access to opportunity.
Date Published: October 2014
Using Tools and Data to Inform Equity-Oriented Decision-Making Webinar
This webinar, held on October 15, 2014, describes three strategies for thinking about and improving equity in our regions. University of Maryland staff demonstrates OppMap, a web-based tool for community-driven opportunity mapping in the Baltimore region. Kirwan Institute staff shows how historical analysis brings clarity to equity discussions in Cleveland. MAPC staff shares lessons learned about how tapping into empathy can help cultivate an open environment for discussing equity.
Date Published: October 2014
Jobs, Unjobs, Skills and Sustainable Communities Webinar
This webinar, held on August 27, 2014, is intended for SCI grantees and provides an overview of changes in work/jobs trends and workforce legislation.
Date Published: August 2014
Food Value Chains: Creating Shared Value to Enhance Marketing Success
This document is designed to provide guidance on how food value chains are initiated and structured, how they function, and the benefits they provide to participants, with the intent of encouraging their adoption where the opportunities for successful collaboration exist among organizations with compatible principles and complementary areas of expertise.
Date Published: July 2014
This video from the Sustainable Communities Leadership Academy held on May 12-14, 2014 features Carol Davis, Sustainability Manager for Blacksburg, VA and Ken Snyder, President & CEO, PlaceMatters. They explore new ways to get your community involved in the planning process in a meaningful way that is both empowering for citizens and contributes to a stronger, more sustainable plan.
Date Published: May 2014
Urban Agriculture on Brownfields
This guide from EPA works through the main issues like site investigation, and "how clean is clean enough for gardening activities. "Urban agriculture is increasingly understood as a way to revitalize communities. With so much underused brownfield space out there, it is natural some communities would be starting to wonder how to make the two things go together.
Date Published: April 2014
Economic Diversity in Appalachia Web Tool
This web tool includes data, indicators, and visuals designed to help practitioners and policy makers understand and explore several key concepts related to economic diversity. Through tables, charts, graphics, and maps, users are able to quickly and easily undertake selected analyses of the economies of all 3,100+ U.S. counties.
Date Published: March 2014
Metro Outlook Website for Sustainability Indicators
This website of performance metrics was created by the Mid-America Regional Council of Kansas City, MO and is used to track the region's progress towards becoming more sustainable and helps quantify whether or not actions are truly creating a vibrant, connected and green region.
Date Published: March 2014
Foreign Direct Investment and Exporting Webinar
This webinar, held on March 14, 2014, walks attendees through a web-based resource that is designed to promote ways to more effectively attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and develop export potential. The project profiles provide several useful examples for local communities that may want to introduce initiatives to promote exporting and FDI or have already launched such initiatives and want to make them more effective.
Date Published: March 2014
Putting Equity on the Map: Innovative Tools to Measure Access to Opportunity Webinar
This webinar, held on January 22, 2014, describes cutting edge equity mapping tools being used by regions around the country to measure social equity and access to opportunity. Across the country, access to opportunity varies greatly depending on the neighborhood or town one lives in. As our regions plan for the future, how do we ensure that decisions made today benefit everyone's quality of life?
Date Published: January 2014
Regional Innovation Acceleration Network (RIAN) Webinar
This webinar, held on December 18, 2013, is hosted by the NADO Research Foundation and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). It describes State Science and Technology Institute's (SSTI) Regional Innovation Acceleration Network (RIAN).
Date Published: December 2013
Building Capacity: Issue Brief Compilation from Phase I Team Implementation
This issue brief represents a compilation of specific issue area briefs provided by the Implementation team. Each issue brief accompanied a monthly webinar and allowed grantees to gain additional resources on topics such as creating regional TOD plans and strategies, infill infrastructure financing, advancing sustainability in a slow economy, and redeveloping brownfield properties. This document was created for the purpose of providing grantees with a one-stop resource for all issue briefs from Phase I Capacity Building work of Team Implementation.
Date Published: December 2013
Performance Measures for Local Livability and Multi-Modal Transportation Webinar
This webinar, held on October 16, 2013, is intended for MAP-21 subgrantees to learn about the benefits, best practices, and collaborative strategies for developing regional transportation performance measurements in their advocacy for better planning at the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) and state levels.
Date Published: October 2013
Livable Claiborne Communities Alternatives Analysis & Transportation Implementation Strategy
This technical memorandum provides an analysis of corridor alternatives and transportation system improvements and provides an implementation strategy for the Livable Claiborne Communities in New Orleans, LA.
Date Published: October 2013
Envision Tomorrow Plus Training Video Series
This set of training videos trains users on the popular Envision Tomorrow Plus (ET+) tools. Envision Tomorrow is an innovative set of urban and regional planning tools that can be used to model development feasibility on a site-by-site basis as well as create and evaluate multiple land use scenarios, test and refine transportation plans, produce small-area concept plans, and model complex regional issues.
Date Published: September 2013
This issue brief pulls from a forthcoming publication by MZ Strategies, LLC for Enterprise Community Partners and Mile High Connects, through funding from the Ford Foundation, to examine the potential for current federal transportation programs to provide equitable TOD financing. It also includes research from a Summary of National Best Practices on Competitive Grant Funds prepared for the Transportation For America/Rockefeller MAP-21 Implementation grantees by Reconnecting America.
Date Published: August 2013
Increasing the Financial Resiliency of Your Region in a Disaster-Filled World Webinar
This webinar, held on July 19, 2013, helps participants consider their local governments’ financial vulnerability as well as their capacity to respond to future natural disasters based on research and lessons learned responding to tropical natural disasters along the Gulf Coast of the United States. Further, joint financial vulnerabilities between local governments in a region are identified and strategies provided for how individual local governments can increase financial capacity that improves financial resiliency for the overall region.
Date Published: July 2013
Communicating Complexity in Planning Webinar
This video, published on June 19, 2013, explores ways in which planners can translate complex planning ideas into usable information for the public and key decision makers.
Date Published: June 2013
U.S. Cluster Map and Registry Webinar
This webinar, held on May 17, 2013, provides an overview of the U.S. Cluster Map and Registry which contains data on the regional clusters that are driving the national economy. Through this website practitioners can access key information on industries by location and type, in both data and chart format, which can be useful for developing a regional economic development strategy.
Date Published: May 2013
Triple Bottom Line Tool Webinar
This webinar, held on May 17, 2013, describes the Triple Bottom Line tool, which is designed to help optimize the impact of economic development investments on economic vitality, natural resource stewardship, and community well-being. It is designed to serve investors, economic development professionals, and decision-makers in the private, public, and non-profit sectors.
Date Published: May 2013
Case Study: Adding Value to the CEDS through HUD's Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grants
This short case study highlights R5DC's efforts in integrating its HUD planning grant and CEDS development work. It also provides helpful ideas for other regions seeking to pursue a similar approach.
Date Published: May 2013
These materials are from the "Implementing a Regional Plan as an Over-arching Economic Development Strategy" breakout session held during the Prosperous Places workshop in Salt Lake City, March 25-26.
Date Published: April 2013
Case Study: Youth Involvement in Community Development Efforts (Brownsville, PA)
This case study, the first in the "Youth With a Voice" series, features a student-led initiative to develop a park and performance stage in downtown Brownsville, PA (pop. 2,300).
Date Published: March 2013
Back to Basics: Performance Measures and Flagship Sustainability Indicators Webinar
This webinar, held on November 1, 2012, focuses on one particular group of performance measures, called the Flagship Sustainability Indicators, which are outcome-based indicators used to measure SCI grantee progress toward creating sustainable regions and communities. HUD's Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities requires all FY 2011 SCI grantees to report on the Flagship Sustainability Indicators, and reporting is optional for FY 2010 grantees.
Date Published: November 2012
Issue Brief: Creating and Implementing Sustainable Development Performance Indicators and Benchmarks
This issue brief provides an overview of best practices for creating and implementing performance indicators and benchmarks to improve sustainable development outcomes. Sustainable Communities Partnership grantees may identify a need for a set of community-specific indicators to augment the set of “Flagship Sustainability Indicators” created by the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities (OSHC). This document is designed to complement OSHC’s guidance.
Date Published: October 2012
OSHC Guidance on Performance Measurement and Flagship Sustainability Indicator Fact Sheets
This document provides instructional guidance and fact sheets on collecting and documenting grantee performance measures related to Sustainability Outcomes captured by the Flagship Sustainability Indicators, which are one set of performance measures developed by OSHC and its partners.
Date Published: August 2012
Agriculture and Healthy Communities Plan for Glens Falls, NY
This report highlights existing community health conditions, with a focus on availability of local healthy food, with a discussion of trends and vision for the future. The report highlights changing demographics and the growing aging population as well as the importance of value-added agriculture and local food processing to keep more wealth in community.
Date Published: June 2015
Delta Roots - The Mid-South Regional Food Systems Plan for East Arkansas
This food system plan assesses the potential for expanding value-added agriculture and the local food economy in the greater E. Arkansas/Memphis region. This report was a joint product of two HUD regional grantees: Shelby County, TN and E. Arkansas Economic and Development District.
Date Published: May 2015
Agriculture Assessment for Local and Regional Markets for Teton View, ID
This assessment evaluates the potential for developing local and regional agricultural production, processing, and marketing in the four county, Teton, Fremont, Madison (ID), and Teton (WY) counties. The report included analysis of existing conditions through interview, focus groups, surveys and examination of data as well as recommendations for expanding potential.
Date Published: March 2015
Local Food Access Study for Washtenaw County, MI
This report provides an analysis of local food systems. It also provides conclusions and recommendations regarding distribution, community commercial kitchens, and food storage.
Date Published: March 2015
Fresh Food Studies for Lehigh Valley, PA
These documents provide information on how Lehigh Valley is growing its local food economy and includes a Food Economy Assessment and policy recommendations.
Date Published: December 2014
This webinar, held on November 13, 2014, is hosted by the NADO Research Foundation. It addresses the intersection between local food, public health, and regional resilience, by exploring Central Minnesota’s Choose Health program. The Choose Health program is one of several regional initiatives that is growing the region’s local food economy and increasing access to healthy food options for disadvantaged populations.
Date Published: November 2014
Capitol Region Plan for Conservation and Development
This plan is a general guide for the future conservation and development of the greater Hartford, CT area. Its individual chapters provide an overview of the many factors that influence the regional development pattern, and the choices available as they move into the future.
Date Published: October 2014
Sustainability Toolkit from Pioneer Valley, MA
This toolkit provides technical assistance and resources to help municipalities in the Pioneer Valley, MA region implement their Regional Plan for Sustainable Development by adopting strategies (including model policies, bylaws, and ordinances) to take action on climate change, promote use of clean energy sources, grow smarter, protect their environments, promote food security, and encourage use of green infrastructure.
Date Published: September 2014
Food Systems Assessment for Centralina, NC and SC
This guide provides information about a process for community engagement for use by municipal and county officials seeking to increase wealth and strengthen community development by building and supporting local and regional food systems. This guide lays out a process for building capacity to take successful action and suggests some areas where actions might be taken first.
Date Published: August 2014
Food Value Chains: Creating Shared Value to Enhance Marketing Success
This document is designed to provide guidance on how food value chains are initiated and structured, how they function, and the benefits they provide to participants, with the intent of encouraging their adoption where the opportunities for successful collaboration exist among organizations with compatible principles and complementary areas of expertise.
Date Published: July 2014
Local Food Implementation Plan for Southwestern, WI - Delicious Driftless Fare Festival
This document summarizes the work required in the months preceding the Delicious Driftless Fare (DDF) event, and which were viewed as necessary for successful replication of the event in future years. The DDF was a one-day event that showcased the region's produce and specialty crop producers and local artistic talent and was part of an overall effort by Grow Southwest to identify and capitalize on local resources, to better produce local energy and food, minimize commutes, and maximize local employment in Grant, Green, Lafayette, Iowa, and Richland counties.
Date Published: March 2014
Framework for Food and Farming in Northwest Michigan
This Northwest Michigan regional food and farming framework is a draft plan to ensure continued viability of the region’s food and farming economy. The plan includes information on agricultural land and production, the farm economy and regional food system, the agricultural workforce, food access and health, and strategies to address local food and farming related issues.
Date Published: January 2014
Sacramento Valley Food HUB Feasibility Study and Cost Estimate
This report provides an initial cost estimate and feasbility analysis for creating a food hub in the Sacramento Valley.
Date Published: October 2013
Local Food District Video for Central Ohio
This video provides information about the triple benefits of the Food District at Weinland Park in Columbus, OH. The video showcases the food district's processing plant that will generate jobs and revenue, the food bank contributions, and the immense community benefits.
Date Published: August 2013
Issue Brief: Incorporating Healthy Community Strategies into the Planning Process
This Issue Brief connects the concepts of healthy communities and community planning. The design of our neighborhoods determines how we get from place to place, where we get our food, where we play, where we seek medical help and how we interact with others. Our access to these opportunities in turns affects our physical and mental health, and evidence is mounting that the built environment has a significant effect on many of our nation’s most severe public health challenges. As a result, the people responsible for planning our communities have found a new ally with public health professionals, and collaborations are forming around the country to integrate health considerations into planning decisions and processes.
Date Published: February 2013
Urban Farmscapes Report for Central Ohio
This report provides information on different innovative structures and operational plans for local food industries. The report showcases different models for local food production that focus on health, job creation, education, and increased standard of living.
Date Published: October 2011
Food Hub Feasibility Study for Southern Wisconsin
This feasibility study provides information on the market viability for an aggregation, storage, and distribution facility that connects growers in southern Wisconsin to buyers in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. It also provides survey data and recommended next steps.
Date Published: September 2011
Local Food Enterprise Report for South Madison, WI
This market feasibility study provides an analysis of food access and potential commercial grocery opportunities in the Southdale and Indian Springs neighborhoods of Madison, WI. It also provides survey data of residents and recommendations for securing a food enterprise in the area.
Date Published: August 2011
Local Food Business Plan for Central Ohio
This food assessment and plan provides information on all components of a regional food system in 12 central Ohio counties, to make policy recommendations to local governments on food decisions. This assessment is a tool that enables working groups of local practitioners to collect and analyze food and agricultural data to identify resources and connect dots to strengthen the region's economy, coordinate local food efforts, and encourage pro-agriculture policy.
Date Published: April 2010
Corridor Plan for Light Rail Extension for Minneapolis, MN Blue Line
This website describes the 13 mile, 11 stop, light rail extension that will connect downtown Minneapolis to its northwest communities - including making connections between these northwest communities and other transit options.
Date Published: March 2017
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor Project for Saint Paul, MN Gateway Corridor
The Gateway Corridor project includes transit studies and news updates for Bus Rapid Transit project connecting the east metro area to the Twin Cities.
Date Published: January 2017
Infrastructure Plan for Glens Falls, NY
This website for the Adirondack Gateway Council lays out the region's planned infrastructure developments, including target communities in the region and their respective proposed projects, as well as reports and other related documents.
Date Published: January 2017
Downtown Allentown, PA Development and Urban Design Plan
This document outlines a plan for downtown development in Allentown, PA. It also provides recommendations in the areas of land use, urban design, and transportation and infrastructure.
Date Published: December 2015
SCI Snapshots: Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)
This compilation of brief snapshot entries provides an overview of the best practices in transit oriented development (TOD) from the 143 HUD Sustainable Communities Initiative grantees.
Date Published: December 2015
SCI Snapshots: Transportation Choice
This compilation of brief snapshot entries provides an overview of the best practices in increasing transportation choice (including transit, bicycling, and walking) from the 143 HUD Sustainable Communities Initiative grantees.
Date Published: December 2015
Light Rail Flyover Visualization Video for Twin Cities, MN
This visualization shows changes to the METRO Green Link Extension route project made in 2015 and approved by Hennepin County and the cities along the route during the municipal consent process in summer 2015. This website also includes videos, news, and reports on the Southwest light rail expansion.
Date Published: September 2015
Fair Housing and Equity Assessment (FHEA) and Housing and Transportation Plan for Glens Falls, NY
The Adirondack Gateway Regional Fair Housing and Equity Assessment and Housing and Transportation Analysis (2015) serves as the HUD‐required regional Fair Housing and Equity Assessment (FHEA) and as one of several technical reports supporting the overall sustainable development plan for the Adirondack Gateway Council Region. It contributes important knowledge and recommendations for action to the Regional Sustainable Development planning process.
Date Published: June 2015
Granite State Future: Statewide Snapshot
This report provides a compilation of the nine regional plans, numerous statewide technical studies, and the robust outreach efforts conducted at the state and regional level to presents the citizens of New Hampshire with the relative priorities of different subjects across the state.
Date Published: June 2015
Leveraging Investment in Transit to Achieve Community and Economic Vitality in Denver, CO
This report, Leveraging the Investment in Transit to Achieve Community and Economic Vitality is an action plan for advancing transit oriented development and complete communities along the Regional Transportation District’s FasTracks rail system, which links jurisdictions throughout the metro Denver region.
Date Published: June 2015
Eastlake Garfield Transit District Plan for Phoenix, AZ
This transit district plan for light rail station area features the following elements: health, economic development, housing, land-use, mobility and "green" systems. Highlights include current conditions discussion, a health impact assessment and strategies to address the health challenges, and a community vision for the future.
Date Published: May 2015
Gateway Transit District Plan for Phoenix, AZ
This transit district plan for light rail station area features the following elements: health, economic development, housing, land-use, mobility and "green" systems. Highlights include current conditions discussion, a health impact assessment and strategies to address the health challenges, and a community vision for the future.
Date Published: May 2015
Midtown Transit District Plan for Phoenix, AZ
This transit district plan for light rail station area features the following elements: health, economic development, housing, land-use, mobility and "green" systems. Highlights include current conditions discussion, a health impact assessment and strategies to address the health challenges, and a community vision for the future.
Date Published: May 2015
Solano Transit District Plan for Phoenix, AZ
This transit district plan for light rail station area features the following elements: health, economic development, housing, land-use, mobility and "green" systems. Highlights include current conditions discussion, a health impact assessment and strategies to address the health challenges, and a community vision for the future.
Date Published: May 2015
Regional Vision Plan for Destination Erie, PA
This document provides a regional plan for Erie County, PA. It also provides economic development strategies for the surrounding region in OH and PA.
Date Published: March 2015
Alternative Fuel Scenario Assessment for Centralina, NC and SC
This guidebook provides thorough information about alternative fuel filling station economics and technical best practices. It provides information on market considerations, analysis of fuel types, financial modeling, permitting and regulatory considerations, and design considerations.
Date Published: January 2015
Economic Case Studies for the East Corridor Rail Line, Denver, CO
The purpose of this research was to assist corridor property owners, developers, and economic development officials with identifying lessons learned with application to economic development growth opportunities and specifically transit oriented development, and addressing specific market, infrastructure, and policy issues or impediments.
Date Published: January 2015
Economic Case Studies for the Gold Corridor Rail Line, Denver, CO
The purpose of this research was to assist corridor property owners, developers, and economic development officials with identifying lessons learned with application to economic development growth opportunities and specifically transit oriented development, and addressing specific market, infrastructure, and policy issues or impediments.
Date Published: January 2015
Innovative MPO Transportation Planning Guidebook
This great resource was developed by the folks at Transportation for America. It is designed to help MPOs — their staff, policy-setting bodies, technical and advisory committees and other interested stakeholders — find innovative ways to achieve goals on behalf of their communities.
Date Published: December 2014
Capitol Region Plan for Conservation and Development
This plan is a general guide for the future conservation and development of the greater Hartford, CT area. Its individual chapters provide an overview of the many factors that influence the regional development pattern, and the choices available as they move into the future.
Date Published: October 2014
This plan provides a vision and prioritized action steps for the Sustainable Knowledge Corridor, a bi-state region that includes the greater Hartford, CT area and the Pioneer Valley in Western Massachusetts.
Date Published: October 2014
SF Bay Area and DC Regional Case Studies on Transportation Reform
This report summarizes key lessons learned from these two regions where advocates, philanthropy, the public sector and private entrepreneurs have created powerful coalitions to make transportation investments work better for people, places and the environment.
Date Published: September 2014
Sustainability Toolkit from Pioneer Valley, MA
This toolkit provides technical assistance and resources to help municipalities in the Pioneer Valley, MA region implement their Regional Plan for Sustainable Development by adopting strategies (including model policies, bylaws, and ordinances) to take action on climate change, promote use of clean energy sources, grow smarter, protect their environments, promote food security, and encourage use of green infrastructure.
Date Published: September 2014
Financing Equitable Transit-Oriented Communities in the Sacramento Region
This report provides recommendations for a framework, operational structure, and financial tools to support an equitable TOD loan fund in Sacramento, CA.
Date Published: July 2014
Interview with Maggie Woodruff - Transportation Planner, New Orleans Regional Planning Commission
This video interview features Maggie Woodruff, of New Orleans, describing the Claiborne Corridor project in Louisiana.
Date Published: July 2014
This grantee planning document examines seven topics: jobs and job training; entrepreneurship and small business development; housing; retail amenities; preservation and redevelopment; arts and culture; and transportation connections. The Implementation Blueprint lays out a vision for each topic area and identifies key actions for implementation by both District agencies and community-based organizations to complete by early 2015.
Date Published: May 2014
This webinar, held on April 30, 2014, focuses on jobs, which are an important part of sustainable community building efforts everywhere and a challenging area of focus for policy makers and practitioners.
Date Published: April 2014
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study for Lehigh Valley, PA (LANta)
This executive summary lays out regional objectives and analysis for expanding enhanced bus and bus rapid transit service. It was adopted by the board of directors in May 2014.
Date Published: March 2014
Framework for Transportation in Northwest Michigan
This Northwest Michigan regional transportation framework identifies opportunities for community players to meet local, county, and regional transportation needs in a coordinated fashion in order to maximize transportation investments. The document provides information on transportation planning; roads and highways; transit; non-motorized transportation; rail, air, water, and freight transportation; multi-modal transportation networks; and strategies to address local transportation related needs.
Date Published: January 2014
Our Next Future: An Action Plan for Building a Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Pioneer Valley
This plan provides a vision for a more vibrant, competitive, sustainable and equitable Pioneer Valley region in Western MA. It is designed to achieve success through promoting collaboration of communities on a regional basis.
Date Published: January 2014
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor Study for Minneapolis, MN Cedar Ave.
This BRT Market and Development Study evaluates the impact of BRT and the potential of Transit Oriented Development in six station areas.
Date Published: November 2013
Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Strategy for Michigan Street, Grand Rapids, MI
This plan provides a strategy for transportation demand management (TDM) for the Michigan Street Corridor. It also provides a review of national leading practices and assessment of existing local resources and opportunities, a discussion of alternative approaches and strategies, and development of an action strategy for implementation.
Date Published: November 2013
Development Opportunity Areas Analysis for Destination Erie, PA
This document provides an analysis of 15 neighborhood transit oriented development opportunities. It also provides a market analysis for each area.
Date Published: October 2013
Performance Measures for Local Livability and Multi-Modal Transportation Webinar
This webinar, held on October 16, 2013, is intended for MAP-21 subgrantees to learn about the benefits, best practices, and collaborative strategies for developing regional transportation performance measurements in their advocacy for better planning at the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) and state levels.
Date Published: October 2013
Livable Claiborne Communities Alternatives Analysis & Transportation Implementation Strategy
This technical memorandum provides an analysis of corridor alternatives and transportation system improvements and provides an implementation strategy for the Livable Claiborne Communities in New Orleans, LA.
Date Published: October 2013
Issue Brief: Connecting Jobs and Workforce Development to Transit
This issue brief explores transit connection to jobs, and access to opportunity.
Date Published: September 2013
Envision Tomorrow Plus Training Video Series
This set of training videos trains users on the popular Envision Tomorrow Plus (ET+) tools. Envision Tomorrow is an innovative set of urban and regional planning tools that can be used to model development feasibility on a site-by-site basis as well as create and evaluate multiple land use scenarios, test and refine transportation plans, produce small-area concept plans, and model complex regional issues.
Date Published: September 2013
This issue brief pulls from a forthcoming publication by MZ Strategies, LLC for Enterprise Community Partners and Mile High Connects, through funding from the Ford Foundation, to examine the potential for current federal transportation programs to provide equitable TOD financing. It also includes research from a Summary of National Best Practices on Competitive Grant Funds prepared for the Transportation For America/Rockefeller MAP-21 Implementation grantees by Reconnecting America.
Date Published: August 2013
Unlocking Metropolitan Planning Organization Funding Tools to Support Sustainability Plans Webinar
This webinar, held on August 14, 2013, explores provisions within federal transportation funding (including MAP-21) that regions can use to begin implementing their sustainability plans.
Date Published: August 2013
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Action Plan for Twin Cities, MN Northstar Commuter Rail
This document is the action plan and strategic recommendations for moving forward transit oriented development in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul region.
Date Published: June 2013
Complete Streets Master Plan for Downtown New Britain, CT
This master plan provides a guide for creating a more pedestrian-friendly, attractive and livable environment throughout a downtown area in preparation for the 2015 scheduled opening of a new bus rapid transit project.
Date Published: May 2013
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study for Madison, WI
This report provides information regarding a corridor-level concept plan for bus rapid transit along four primary transit corridors in the Madison area.
Date Published: April 2013
Aligning Strategies to Maximize Impact: Case Studies on Transportation and Economic Development
This report features 10 case studies from 11 states, where regional planning and economic development organizations are taking steps to coordinate planning processes and investment strategies, partner with new entities to improve outreach and implementation, document progress through metrics, and communicate results in an engaging way.
Date Published: April 2013
Issue Brief: Introduction to Cargo-Oriented Development
This issue brief focuses on cargo-oriented development, an innovative transportation and land use planning concept that integrates freight, economic development, workforce development, and environmental programs in existing communities.
Date Published: April 2013
Issue Brief: Sustainable Economic Development Strategies
In this issue brief, we explore the economic challenges facing many regions, as well as the types of strategies that can help to foster innovation, boost productivity for businesses, reduce transportation costs, and provide better linkages to workers, ultimately resulting in more sustainable economic development.
Date Published: January 2013
Issue Brief: Advancing Environmental Justice Through Sustainability Planning
This brief explains why addressing environmental justice (EJ) is a key aspect of creating sustainable regions, and presents ways in which those involved in local and regional planning can achieve EJ in their communities. It begins by defining EJ and outlining some key issue areas –namely industrial pollution, goods movement, urban sprawl, transportation inequity, smart growth, and displacement.
Date Published: December 2012
Issue Brief: Creating and Preserving Affordable Housing Near Transit
This issue brief provides an overview of best practices for creating and preserving affordable housing near transit. Regions across the United States are expanding public transportation systems to allow more residential choices, improve access to employment centers, reduce traffic congestion and lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions. These transit investments will increase property values in many areas, creating community development opportunities and challenges.
Date Published: November 2012
2012 Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities Summer Smarts Series
This series features eight sessions for SCI grantees.
Date Published: October 2012
This project selection tool helps KeepSpace assess and prioritize projects seeking competitive state or nonprofit funding. This tool was originally developed by EPA for Rhode Island.
Date Published: September 2012
Issue Brief: The Housing and Transportation (H+T) Affordability Index
This issue brief describes the H+T® Index, which quantifies the link between built environment characteristics and certain aspects of transportation behavior, including car ownership rates and vehicle miles travelled. The web-based interface allows this relationship to be explored via maps and data tables for nearly 900 US regions.
Date Published: August 2012
Connecticut Department of Transportation's Perspective on TOD Presentation
This presentation is an overview of how the CT Department of Transportation is maximizing the economic benefits of their transit investment by supporting TOD. Presented by Tom Maziarz, Bureau Chief of Policy and Planning, Connecticut Department of Transportation.
Date Published: July 2012
Transportation Policy Analysis for Central Minnesota
This website provides information on regional sustainable transportation development and the goals, recommendations, and action steps from the Transportation chapter of the Central Minnesota Sustainable Development Plan. It provides Transportation Inventory and Needs, Transportation Maps and Commute Sheds, County Transportation Projects, City Policy Transportation Analysis, County Policy Transportation Analysis, and a Transportation Funding Analysis.
Date Published: January 2012
Livability in Transportation Webinar: Visioning, Planning and Process, and Policy
These online trainings and guidebook illustrate how livability principles have been incorporated into transportation planning, programming, and project design, using examples from State, regional, and local sponsors.
Date Published: June 2012
Assessment of Local Models and Tools for Analyzing Smart-Growth Strategies
This report, developed by the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans), explores models and tools available for use by cities and counties for assessing the potential effects of smart-growth land-use and transportation strategies designed to provide mobility options and reduce demand on automobile-oriented facilities.
Date Published: March 2012
Regional Planning for Transit and TOD Webinar and Issue Brief
This webinar, held on March 21, 2012, describes the challenges the Gulf Regional Planning Commission is facing and how they are using transit and TOD planning to lower housing and transportation costs for residents of the region, and explore how the Twin Cities is leveraging their existing and planned transit network to implement a vision of sustainable, vibrant and healthy communities. This webinar also highlights some of the overarching principles of regional planning for transit and TOD.
Date Published: March 2012
This report provides case studies and checklists of possible actions that metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), rural transportation planning organizations (RPOs), state departments of transportation, local government entities, and other planning partners may take to enhance their partnership efforts.
Date Published: February 2012