News

In this issue:

• Call to discuss upcoming release of SGA report on federal financing of real estate – Tuesday, December 18 at 3:00 p.m. EST
• Federal Policy Update
• SGA releases new report “City versus suburban growth in small metro areas: Analysis of U.S. Census data in Metropolitan Statistical Areas under one million people”
• Join the National Complete Streets Coalition on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 for its 3rd annual Partners dinner!
• SGA Coalition Member Survey
• National Endowment for the Arts is accepting applications for Our Town grants – due January 14, 2013
• Registration is now open for the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference February 7-9, 2013

Call to discuss upcoming release of SGA report on federal financing of real estate – Tuesday, December 18 at 3:00 p.m. EST –  (712) 432-0111, 668783#

Over the past year, Smart Growth America has looked at a number of federal programs that impact how real estate is built on the ground in communities across the country. As part of this project SGA will be publishing a report in early January, Federal Funding and the Real Estate Market: Time for a Fresh Look, that looks the federal spending, commitments and guarantees impacting where private real estate development occurs. The report also makes recommendations to policy makers about over arching purposes and criteria that should guide federal involvement in the real estate market.

On Tuesday, December 18th at 3:00pm ET on this line: 712-432-0111, 668783#, Smart Growth America will be holding a call for our coalition partners to walk through the report and answer any questions.

Federal Policy Update

Fiscal cliff discussions continue. Both the White House and Congress are seeking a grand bargain in the lame duck but the solution may end up being a multi-step solution with legislation to avert the immediate fiscal cliff passing this year and comprehensive tax reform considered next Congress. President Obama and Speaker Boehner (R -OH) met on Sunday to negotiate as the December 31 deadline looms.

Finally, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) announced who will chair all of the major House committees in the next Congress. As we expected Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) will be named Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R – TX) will chair the House Financial Services Committee for the 113th Congress.

SGA releases new report  “City versus suburban growth in small metro areas: Analysis of U.S. Census data in Metropolitan Statistical Areas under one million people”

New analysis of U.S. Census data from Smart Growth America reveals that cities in small metro areas are gaining population – and most are growing faster than their suburbs. This finding reflects population trends revealed earlier this year in research from the Brookings Institution, which examined growth rates the country’s 51 largest metropolitan areas. But whereas that report looked only at large metro areas like New York, San Francisco and Chicago, Smart Growth America’s research examines what’s happening in the nation’s slightly smaller – but no less important – metro areas.

To read the full report, download “City versus suburban growth rates in small metro areas (pdf)” on SGA’s website.

Join the National Complete Streets Coalition on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 for its 3rd annual Partners dinner

This year’s dinner—conveniently scheduled during the Transportation Research Board annual meeting—brings together expert professionals, well-known advocates, and chief policymakers involved in promoting, designing, and building Complete Streets for a relaxing evening of dinner and conversation.

Dinner will be served at 6:30 PM at Petits Plats, a French bistro located in the Woodley Park neighborhood of Washington, DC. Tickets are available for $150. For $200, our honored guests will be seated at the head table.

Click here to register online. If you have any questions, please contact Laura Searfoss.

SGA Coalition Member Survey

National Endowment for the Arts is accepting applications for Our Town grants

On October 11, 2012, the NEA posted guidelines and application materials for Our Town, the agency’s primary creative placemaking grants program. Pending availability of funding, grants will range from $25,000 to $200,000.

Our Town will invest in creative and innovative projects in which communities, together with their arts and design organizations and artists, seek to:

• Improve their quality of life;
• Encourage greater creative activity;
• Foster stronger community identity and a sense of place; and
• Revitalize economic development.

Organizations can submit applications until January 14, 2013.

Registration is now open for the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference February 7-9, 2013

This year, the New Partners Conference makes its way to America’s heartland—Kansas City, Missouri. The program will span three full days with optional pre-conference events scheduled for Wednesday, February 6th and post-conference events scheduled for Sunday February 10th. The main program will kick off on Thursday morning, February 7th, and continue through Saturday afternoon. The schedule includes a dynamic mix of plenaries, breakouts, implementation workshops, specialized trainings, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and coordinated networking activities. It will also feature exciting tours of local model projects in and around the greater Kansas City region. Learn more and register on the New Partners website.