Charlottesville’s work to make downtown a more walkable, attractive destination has helped us win a national competitive award.
Smart Growth America-a national nonprofit that advocates for better cities, towns, and neighborhoods-announced today that Charlottesville is among 14 winning communities that will receive a free technical assistance workshop in 2015. Through the program, Charlottesville will receive hands-on assistance from national experts on a sustainable land use code audit.
“Having this kind of assistance is invaluable to us as we move forward in our efforts to have a land use code that works with us to achieve our community’s goals for a sustainable, walkable community,” said Jim Tolbert, Director of Neighborhood Development Services.
“This award is a testament to the hard work Charlottesville has already done,” said Roger Millar, Vice President of Smart Growth America’s Leadership Institute. “Our program was more competitive this year than ever before, and Charlottesvillestood out as a community doing great work. We’re excited to be able to help you continue on to the next stage of this work.”
The workshops offered through Smart Growth America’s program focus on a range of issues, including transit-oriented development, Complete Streets, smart growth zoning, economic development and fiscal health, parking management and regional planning for small communities, among other topics.
Smart Growth America received over 120 applications for technical assistance from 35 states for its 2015 workshops. The full list of winning communities includes: Cheyenne Metropolitan Planning Organization, WY; City of Bentonville, AR; City of Charlottesville, VA; City of Columbia, MO; City of Fort Pierre, SD; City of Franklin, TN; City of Indianapolis, IN; City of Knoxville, TN; City of Sanford, FL; City of SeaTac, WA; City of Spokane, WA; Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization, TN; Macon-Bibb County, GA; and Tucker County Planning Commission, WV.
About Smart Growth America’s free technical assistance Smart Growth America offers twelve types of technical assistance workshops that help communities build stronger local economies, protect the environment, preserve sense of place and improve overall quality of life. The technical assistance is funded through a grant to Smart Growth America from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Sustainable Communities under their Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program. The Building Blocks program funds quick, targeted assistance to communities that face common development problems. Through the program, Smart Growth America has already provided free assistance to over 50 communities across the United States, from Hawaii to Maine.
Smart Growth America is the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring smart growth practices to more communities nationwide. From providing more sidewalks to ensuring more homes are built near public transportation or that productive farms remain a part of our communities, smart growth helps make sure people across the nation can live in great neighborhoods. For additional information visitwww.smartgrowthamerica.org
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