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What is smart growth?

Smart growth is an approach to community design that connects housing, transportation, and land use to create healthy, prosperous, and resilient neighborhoods.

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Key principles Smart growth in action

About us

Smart Growth America cultivates vibrant, sustainable communities with diverse living and transportation options, enhancing quality of life for all.

Welcome to Smart Growth America How we work Mission, vision, and values Our history Our team Our Board

Our work

Smart Growth America cultivates vibrant, sustainable communities with diverse living and transportation options, enhancing quality of life for all.

Focus areas

Programs & coalitions

Advocacy Direct community support Current projects Apply to the Champions Institute Our impact

Impact

Smart Growth America cultivates vibrant, sustainable communities with diverse living and transportation options, enhancing quality of life for all.

Stories of impact

Events

Throughout the year, we host a number of in-person and virtual events covering topics related to public health, social equity, and climate resilience.

All SGA@25 Celebration Equity Summit

Knowledge hub

We offer a library of case studies, videos, and reports to support policymakers, practitioners, and advocates interested in advancing smart growth.

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Helping communities thrive

Our mission

Our work

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What is smart growth?

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Our mission

Smart Growth America helps create healthy, prosperous, and resilient places to live for all people.

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Our work

Our work spans housing and land use, transportation, complete streets, and economic development to find solutions to communities’ most pressing needs.

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Dive in:

What is smart growth?

Smart growth is an approach to community design that connects housing, transportation, and land use to create healthy, prosperous, and resilient neighborhoods.

Learn more

News

From policy to action: San Antonio’s Complete Streets progress

By Dustin Robertson • December 9, 2025

News & Insights

Building on underutilized land: Solutions for type, place, and price

By Jeri Mintzer • December 9, 2025

News & Insights

Building momentum for safety on Center Point Parkway

By Heidi Simon • December 4, 2025

News & Insights

Critical reforms to encourage transit-oriented development are en route

By Elisa Ramirez • January 15, 2026

News & Insights

Lessons from Smart Growth America’s Culture and Community Network: A Blueprint for Integrating Arts and Culture into Regional Planning

By Marian Liou • January 15, 2026

News & Insights

Community Connectors participant spotlight: Joe Tucker

By Raveena John • January 15, 2026

News & Insights

Community Connectors participant spotlight: Nancy Goldring

By Raveena John • January 15, 2026

News & Insights

Community Connectors participant spotlight: Ernest Banks

By Raveena John • January 15, 2026

News & Insights

Press release: Smart Growth America Announces Community Partners for “Outside In” Project Illuminating AAPI Suburban Histories Across the American South

By Smart Growth America • January 8, 2026

News & Insights

Smart Growth America turns 25!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for SGA@25, our event honoring 25 years of advancing healthy, prosperous, and resilient communities. More than 250 leaders and luminaries from across housing, transportation, land use, and economic development came together to celebrate the smart growth movement’s achievements and reflect on the work ahead. The evening was both a moment to recognize how far the movement has come and a chance to reaffirm a shared commitment to shaping communities that work better for people, now and in the future.

The evening was both a moment to recognize how far the movement has come and a chance to reaffirm a shared commitment to shaping communities that work better for people, now and in the future.

See our event photos and recap

What's New

Best Complete Streets Policies 2025 (PDF)

In the Best Complete Streets Policies Report 2025, Smart Growth America reviewed and scored 43 Complete Streets policies passed in 2023 and 2024. Complete Streets policies can be adopted in places of all sizes and can be tailored to meet the transportation and mobility goals of each community. As the top policies and case studies in this report demonstrate, it is possible to take action, whether you are a state,...

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Featured Report

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Housing for Havens: Smart growth strategies for climate resilience

Climate hazards, including extreme weather and changing conditions like sea level rise or drought, can cause long-lasting damage to homes, businesses, infrastructure, and communities as a whole. Ripple effects on regional economies, including on housing prices and insurance costs, can further destabilize communities. As these hazards become more frequent and more intense, many may choose or be forced to relocate. Some communities have embraced reputations as climate havens to try...

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Featured Report

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Healing our Highways Report

In January 2024, Smart Growth America (SGA) launched the Healing Our Highways program with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Kresge Foundation. Aimed at generating creative ideas and activities that build knowledge, connections, and power within communities most harmed by transportation systems and vulnerable to climate change, the program provided funding and support to teams of artists, advocates, and culture bearers from Tampa Heights (Florida), Boyle...

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Featured Report

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Best Complete Streets Policies 2025 (PDF)

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Featured Report

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Housing for Havens: Smart growth strategies for climate resilience

Learn more

Featured Report

Download PDF

Healing our Highways Report

Learn more

Featured Report

Download PDF

Our Impact

Smart Growth America works across the country, in contexts from rural to urban, forging partnerships and leading workshops to support communities to make their neighborhoods thrive. Click the link to learn more about SGA's many projects.

Our Impact Across America

How we work

Our programs support thriving businesses and jobs, provide more options for how people get around, and make it more affordable to live near work and essential services.

See our work

Learn about Smart Growth America

Our approach

Smart growth looks different from place to place—it’s an overall approach to development that encourages a mix of building types and uses, diverse housing and transportation options, development within existing neighborhoods, and robust community engagement.

Programs and coalitions

At Smart Growth America, our various programs and coalitions work collaboratively to shape communities where people thrive. Through research, advocacy, and hands-on support, our network of advocates, decision-makers, and field experts work together to advance policies and practices that prioritize safety, equity, and sustainability.

Our Resource Library

Our resource catalogue includes a variety of materials ranging from comprehensive studies and reports to practical guides and policy frameworks.

Whether you're a city planner, community leader, or simply interested in creating a better future for your community, these resources offer valuable insights and practical strategies to achieve that vision.

Go to the Knowledge Hub