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.
About us
Smart Growth America cultivates vibrant, sustainable communities with diverse living and transportation options, enhancing quality of life for all.
Our work
Smart Growth America cultivates vibrant, sustainable communities with diverse living and transportation options, enhancing quality of life for all.
Impact
Smart Growth America cultivates vibrant, sustainable communities with diverse living and transportation options, enhancing quality of life for all.
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.
Services
Current projects
We support leaders in small and mid-sized communities through direct community support.
In the Champions Institute, a hand-picked group of local elected officials are learning to effectively advocate for and support safer and more Complete Streets.
Smart growth strategies help towns and cities of all types across the country become healthier while improving resiliency. In its fourth year, Smart Growth America’s Champions Institute provides local leaders with knowledge and resources, to support plans, policies, and projects that promote strategies to improve community design.
Through the program, participants become effective champions for Complete Streets, downtown revitalization, and other local initiatives that create places where families can be active together and live healthier lives. The tools and experiences gained during the program will allow these Champions to develop an action plan for creating strategies to improve community design in their communities.
With the support of Smart Growth America and their peers, champions have successfully:
- Drafted and adopted Complete Streets policies
- Implemented temporary quick-build demonstrations
- Installed permanent capital improvement projects
- Conducted community engagement through walk audits, coalition organizing, and pop-up events
Program impact and success
The Champions Institute has supported 91 local elected officials and 20 state elected officials from across the United States. These champions have continued to engage with Smart Growth America in other technical assistance programs, by participating in advocacy and storytelling efforts, and being ambassadors for the organization’s mission in their communities and states.
2024 Champions Alumni Convening
News
Get direct support from SGA!
Smart Growth America’s technical assistance programs work alongside and within communities of all sizes and organizations to build support for policies and practices that will lead to healthy, prosperous, and resilient places.
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Livable places. Healthy people. Shared prosperity.
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