News

In this issue:

• Pre-lobby day Conference Call on Thursday, April 19 at 3:00 p.m. EST
• Federal Policy Update
• Send Smart Growth America your “Smart Growth Stories”
• Register for the LOCUS Leadership Summit on June 5-7, 2012

Pre-lobby day Conference call on Thursday, April 19 at 3:00 p.m. EST

We will have a call to discuss the lobby day issues on Thursday, April 19^th at 3 p.m. EST to go over talking points and other issues. The call in number is (218) 632-0550 code: 208232.

Federal Policy Update

Yesterday, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development voted to submit its FY13 spending bill. Though there was a 3.5% decrease in funding levels, the bill included $50 million for the HUD Sustainable Communities Initiative, which funds the tremendously popular Regional Planning and Community Challenge grant programs. The bill also included $500 million for the TIGER grant program, which is equal to the current funding level. The full committee will take up the bill tomorrow, Thursday, April 19th.

The House is currently debating a 90-day extension of surface transportation programs. It is expected that the House will pass the extension. The legislation will include language approving the Keystone Pipeline. The House is also considering an amendment that will make significant reforms to the NEPA process. These reforms raise concerns about undermining the environmental review process.

SGA’s latest blog series: “Smart Growth Stories”

Smart Growth America is collecting ideas for its latest blog series and e-mail campaign, “Smart Growth Stories.” Not only will the stories provide coverage for some of the country’s most exciting projects, they will also serve as a resource for SGA coalition partners. Looking for fresh news content? Feel free to pull from the blog and to re-post. If there are opportunities to further spread the word or to get a posting in front of a new audience, alert us. For more information, send an e-mail to SGA’s press manager, Tom Madrecki.

Register for the LOCUS Leadership Summit

Real estate developers, investors and professionals are invited to join LOCUS: Responsible Real Estate Developers and Investors for the first annual LOCUS Leadership Summit in Washington, DC. In partnership with Smart Growth America, this three-day event will provide real estate professionals from across the country the opportunity to meet with Congressional leaders and smart growth industry leaders, to network with fellow professionals, and gain in-depth information about the federal financing of real estate and other innovative solutions to challenges facing the real estate industry. Click here for more information.