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.
Announcing the Zoning for Equitable Solutions and Thriving Communities (ZEST) TA cohort
Smart Growth America is proud to announce the inaugural cohort for our new national technical assistance program: Zoning for Equitable Solutions and Thriving Communities (ZEST). ZEST marks a pivotal step in our work to dismantle the structural inequities embedded in land-use policy. Through this program, we’re building a national network of community-based organizations focused on zoning reform for health equity, helping create healthy and prosperous communities across the country.
Training leaders to reform local land use rules for improved community health
Zoning for Equitable Solutions and Thriving Communities (ZEST) directly supports community-based organizations working to change health inequities by supporting them through capacity building to reform local land use rules, improve health in their communities, and advance their mission-driven work.
In addition to receiving education materials and conducting policy analysis, examples of the types of projects for this program include:
- Expanding access to fresh, healthy food in underserved neighborhoods by supporting zoning changes that allow for local grocery stores, community gardens, and corner markets.
- Developing a practical advocacy guide to help community members push for zoning policies that promote health equity—such as adopting “complete streets” policies and organizing events to showcase the benefits of walkable, bike-friendly spaces.
- Working to change zoning laws so that everyone in the community has access to affordable and suitable housing
The Center for Zoning Solutions is thankful for the generous support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in providing funding to work with our community-based organization partners to advance health equity and zoning reform in their local communities.
News
Get direct support from SGA!
u003cpu003eSmart 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.u003c/pu003e
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