In this Issue:

• Advocacy Training 201 Webinar
• TIGER Webinar Shares Important Insights for Rural Communities
• State Anti-Sprawl Research
• Send in your Nominations for Smart Growth America’s Second Annual 2012 Leadership Award
• Connect, Collaborate, Create Solutions at Upcoming Conference

Advocay Training 201 Webinar

Last week, Smart Growth America held a webinar on additional advocacy skills and how to talk about your projects and the Partnership for Sustainable Communities. The webinar also included a simulated Congressional meeting. For more information and to view the video, please visit our post about the webinar.

TIGER Webinar Shares Important Insights for Rural Communities

A recent webinar entitled “TIGER Grants and Rural America” explained in detail a valuable funding source for rural communities seeking to improve their transportation network. Rural communities face unique challenges such as maintaining their small town character while encouraging economic growth, and less density often precludes certain types of transportation projects. A key take-away from the webinar, though, is that rural communities can use TIGER grants to overcome these challenges and implement innovative and job-creating transportation projects. More information about the webinar and access the materials can be found here on our blog.

State Anti-Sprawl Research

As many of you know, SGA has partnered with Robert Liberty, a highly accomplished researcher and professor currently at the University of Oregon, to look at anti-sprawl measures in the 50 states. SGA would like to share the results with you; specifically, we'd like to share your state's profile and the overall summary of findings which addresses:

1. State growth and development trends
2. State level sprawl curtailment measures
3. Regional and local sprawl curtailment efforts
4. Effectiveness of these efforts
5. Opportunities to do more

If you would like to see your state's profile and the overall summary, contact Angel Coleman, acoleman smartgrowthamerica org.

***Please note, these research documents are strictly CONFIDENTIAL and should not be circulated or shared. We want to be strategic about how to deploy the work and look forward to discussing those options with you.

We think you will find his review interesting and perhaps helpful. Discussion of this research is on the agenda for the next coalition call on September 8 at 4 pm EST (call in info will be forthcoming). During this call, we would like to hear your thoughts and brainstorm ways we can use the information to further our missions.

Send in your Nominations for Smart Growth America’s Second Annual 2012 Leadership Award

Nominations are now being accepted for Smart Growth America’s Leadership Institute Second Annual Leadership Award. This is a great opportunity to recognize elected officials in your area who have championed smart growth and sustainable development policies. Smart Growth America’s Leadership Institute’s Award for Outstanding Leadership is bestowed annually on an elected official that has shown exceptional leadership in smart growth policy development or implementation. Nominations will be accepted until September 1, 2011. More information on the award and submission process can be found here.

Connect, Collaborate, Create Solutions at Upcoming Conference

Registration is open for Solutions for Sustainable Communities: 2011 Learning Conference on State and Local Housing Policy in Washington, DC September 26-28, organized by the National Housing Conference and Center for Housing Policy. You can find information about this conference, all other upcoming conferences, events and more on SGA's coalition member-only calendar. You can also add this conference to your Google Calendar.