Why You Should Attend
Why the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference is an Important Event for Local Policymakers
New Partners for Smart Growth is important to local policymakers because it is the most relevant conference on the latest trends in zoning, development and design. For someone making development decisions, it is the best way to stay current.
—Dave Richens, Councilmember,
City of Mesa, Arizona
There are many great reasons to attend the 11th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference in San Diego, California, especially if you are a local elected official or a local government official.
Local elected officials are charged with making some of the most difficult and important decisions regarding how cities and counties grow and change. Faced with the challenge of addressing critical issues such as shrinking budgets and scarce resources, public health and safety, access to transit and affordable housing, impacts of global warming, and so much more—they need access to tools, strategies and resources that can help them make the right decisions for the communities they serve. As a local policymaker you can serve as a delegate for your residents as you learn new strategies to help respond to your community’s top concerns.
There has also been a growing realization at all levels of government that traditional growth patterns have had a negative effect on our communities, public health, environment, and the economy. And because the majority of land use and transportation planning decision-making occurs at the local level, elected officials play an essential role in the creation of more livable and equitable communities.
Smart growth offers local policymakers a way to look comprehensively at shaping communities that are built for everyone. We strongly believe this premier smart growth event will provide local officials with the latest research, strategies, tools, best practices, and information on how they can be more successful in tackling the many challenges they face, and help them make the best choices for their communities.
While there is no one recipe for success, we have assembled national, regional and local speakers and resources to help you navigate the myriad of policies and strategies and develop a plan to fit your community's needs. Come participate in sessions on topics such as:
Funding Projects in Your Community
Learn how to make the most out of the money you have! Local governments are among the most innovative thinkers when it comes to doing more with less. This year’s speakers will address topics such as sustainable investment strategies, creating partnerships to leverage resources and expertise, and updates on funding opportunities.
Removing Barriers to Good Development
If redeveloping vacant or blighted properties were easy; we’d have a lot more buildings brought back to productive use. However, identifying properties, finding funding, and implementing the redevelopment plan can be a challenge. Come hear our experts reveal the best strategies for revitalizing properties in your community. We have a number of sessions that focus on revitalizing America’s Legacy Cities—so don’t miss out!
Creating and Managing Open Space and Parks
Whether you are in the market for preserving open space or farmland, regional parkland, an urban farm, or a park on previously blighted property, our speakers will help you understand the numerous co-benefits of parks and find ways to design affordable, multi-use public spaces to meet your needs.
Building an Effective and “Complete” Transportation System
There is greater awareness that transportation and development are not separate entities, but in fact complement each other. So whether it is trying to encourage more Transit Oriented Development or “Development Oriented Transit” in your jurisdiction, or adding active transportation elements to your current system to make it more “complete”, or planning for a successful transportation system in a low density region or in rural areas, or trying to squeeze more performance from your existing network, or ensuring that children in your communities have “Safe Routes to School”, this conference helps you put together the pieces you need to succeed.
Designing for Sustainable Infrastructure
Report after recent report has found that America’s transportation, water and storm water infrastructure is crumbling and in desperate need of repair. Yet this comes at a time when local governments have very little money to invest in large infrastructure projects. This conference will showcase some of the more innovative infrastructure advancements currently being undertaken that are addressing these needs. Sessions will provide creative approaches to help incorporate smart growth principles into infrastructure projects and reduce regulatory and financial barriers to implementing greener, more sustainable infrastructure in your community.
The New Partners conference inspired us to be proactive instead of reactive. More importantly, we learned what was possible, and what had been done in other jurisdictions.
—Debora Fudge, Councilmember,
City of Windsor, CA
Addressing Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
Jurisdictions across the country are realizing the need to plan for the effects of climate change. This conference will highlight cutting edge, creative strategies and case studies from around the nation where communities are attempting to promote energy efficiency and reduce the effects of climate change.
Ensuring Equitable Development and Environmental Justice
Creating a livable and prosperous community is only half of the battle, it is also important to make sure that everyone in your community can thrive. This year’s conference will feature some of the top equitable development and environmental justice experts who will showcase how communities can offer healthy and safe environments, accessible education and transportation, quality jobs, and affordable housing to all segments of the population.
Encouraging Better Public Health
This year’s conference features information on how the built environment shapes our daily habits and affects our health. Sessions feature how to build communities suitable for the growing aging population, expand the availability of healthy food options, and promote a more active lifestyle among local residents.
Improving Mobility for All Segments of the Population
Our speakers will offer compelling information on how to match transportation with community design to add choices and get all people where they need to go.
And Much, Much More…
Councilman John Cartier and I attended the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference this past January in Denver. We were inspired. With the Support of New Castle County Council President, the County Executive, and the Economic Development Council, three of the experts we heard at the conference will be coming here to present successful solutions at a symposium here in New Castle this year.
—Robert Weiner, Councilmember,
New Castle County, DE
