News

In this issue:

• Coalition Call Thursday, January 31st at 4:00 p.m. EST
• Register for the SGA Annual Coalition Meeting and Lobby Day, March 20-21
• Federal Policy Updates
• Join SGA at its annual Smart Growth Leadership Awards at the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference – Friday, February 8, 2013
• SGA Coalition Member Survey
• Submit session proposals to present at the 2013 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference – proposals due by January 25th
• Transportation for America has released a new guide to understanding the changes in MAP 21

Coalition Call Thursday, January 31st at 4:00 p.m. EST

The call will be on Thursday, January 31st at 4:00 p.m. EST on this conference line: 712-432-0111, 668783#.

Register for the SGA Annual Coalition Meeting and Lobby Day, March 20-21

This year’s coalition meeting will be held during the afternoon on March 20 and the Lobby Day will be held the following day between 8:30am and 3pm. We have not finalized a location yet, but we are working on identifying a hotel room block (trying to get the Beacon again) and will keep you updated.

We’ve put up a registration form and we ask that you register by Friday, March 1. The agenda is still being formed so if you have specific topics you want to hear about please contact Elisa Ortiz.

Federal Policy Update

• The House is expected to extend the debt ceiling for three more months, but Conservatives are moving to defeat the bill because it does not call for spending cuts. The bill also forces the House and Senate to pass a budget by April 15 or lawmakers will not get paid.
• The House also passed a $50 billion aid package to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy. The bill is currently awaiting passage in the Senate. If passed, nearly $10 billion will go to the FTA to aid transit agencies affected by the storm. MAP-21 created a new “public transportation emergency relief program” that would let the FTA make grants for operations, repairs, equipment and more after a natural disaster.

Join SGA at its annual Smart Growth Leadership Awards at the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference – Friday, Feb. 8, 2013

Friday, February 8, 2013
7:00-8:00 PM
Downtown Marriott, Muehlebach Tower
Historic Barney Allis Lobby
1213 Wyandotte Street, Kansas City, Missouri

Each year, Smart Growth America bestows our Leadership Awards on an elected official or business who has shown exceptional leadership in smart growth policy development or implementation.

SGA is proud to announce that this year’s awards will be presented to Mayor Laura McConwell and the city of Mission, Kansas; Mayor Randy Rhodes and the city of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; and David Pratt, on behalf of Progressive Insurance for the company’s Snapshot pay-as-you-drive auto insurance.

Click here to register for the event, and if you have any questions please contact Moira Gillick.

SGA Coalition Member Survey

Submit session proposals to present at the 2013 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference – proposals due by January 25th

Submit a session proposal for the 2013 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference, to be held September 9-11, 2013 in Philadelphia.

This is an opportunity to showcase your successes and hard-earned lessons for the benefit of others while presenting at the premier conference for community revitalization. Themed “Investing in the Future: Unlocking Hidden Values,” the conference brings together practitioners, policymakers researchers and others from all around the country. Participants come away with new ideas, new connections and new energy to turn problem properties into assets through planning and strategic investment.

January 25th is the last day to submit a session proposal. More information on the conference and how to submit a proposal is available on the Center for Community Progress’ website.

Transportation for America has released a new guide to understanding the changes in MAP 21

After a delay of more than 1,000 days from the expiration of the previous law, in the summer of 2012 Congress adopted an update to the federal transportation program known as Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st century, or MAP-21.

While it stopped short of providing more robust funding or a sweeping vision for infrastructure the 21st century, MAP-21 makes significant changes to federal transportation policy that are critical to understand. There are key provisions that allow for engaged stakeholders, local officials and citizens to push for genuine progress. By the same token, other provisions are cause for concern and will require vigilant monitoring.

Explore the new changes in the legislation and how to use them effectively in your community by downloading “Making the Most of MAP-21 (pdf)” on Transportation for America’s website.