News

In this issue:

• Register now for the SGA Coalition and Lobby Day (April 25-26,2012)
• Pre-lobby day Conference Call on Thursday, April 19 at 3:00 p.m. EST
• Federal Policy Update
• SGA’s latest blog series: “Smart Growth Stories”
• Join SGA at the AzTA/ADOT Conference in Flagstaff, AZ on April 23-24, 2012
• Save the Date: LOCUS Leadership Summit on June 5-7, 2012

Register for the SGA Coalition and Lobby Day on April 25-26, 2012

Smart Growth America’s Annual Coalition Meeting and Lobby Day is on April 25 and 26. Please register for the coalition meeting and lobby day by COB TODAY April 4! Click here for more information.

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. An agenda will be forthcoming.

Federal Policy Update

• Congress is on recess until April 16th, at which time we expect to see some movement on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development.
• A “Dear Colleague” letter circulated last month on Capitol Hill in support of the Sustainable Communities Initiative. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) circulated the letter in support of funding the Sustainable Communities Initiative at the President’s request of $100 million. More than 24 Senators signed on to the letters to show their support for funding for the program in the upcoming fiscal year.
• Last week, a 90-day extension for surface transportation was passed in the House and approved by the Senate to fund the federal transportation program until June 30, 2012.

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

Why smart growth, and why now?

That’s the question Smart Growth America is asking elected leaders, local planners, developers and neighborhood residents as part of our latest blog series and e-mail campaign, “Smart Growth Stories.” What ties these stories together is a shared interest in creating better neighborhoods and in supporting economic development.

Not only do the stories provide coverage for some of the country’s most exciting projects, they 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. At the end of the day, we’re all looking to enhance the visibility of smart growth and its many positive benefits, and so we’d also ask that if there are opportunities to further spread the word or to get a posting in front of a new audience, alert us. Send an e-mail to SGA’s press manager, Tom Madrecki and let him know if it’d be possible to distribute specific stories further, or if you have an idea for a future article.

Join SGA in Flagstaff, AZ for the AzTA/ADOT 25th Anniversary Conference on April 23-24, 2012

Join Smart Growth America at the 25th annual conference of the Arizona Transit Association and Arizona Department of Transportation on April 23-24, 2012, in Flagstaff, AZ. This year’s theme is “Showcasing Value in Transit” and will feature three tracks including “Improving the Operation”, “Achieving Sustainability”, and “Partnering for Success.” Nearly 20 sessions will provide practitioners, planners, operators, and users with valuable information and skills to make public transportation programs and services better, while finding ways to meet the current economic challenges that face us all. Click here for more information.

Save the Date: LOCUS Leadership Summit on June 5-7, 2012

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 two-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.