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March 27, 2025
As federal funding programs are changed, reduced, or curtailed, localities are increasingly looking to states to supplement finance efforts to produce, preserve, and improve housing supply. Here are four ways to use state funding for local housing action, plus a look at two states that are creating even more opportunities for financing
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March 27, 2025
Despite a shifting political environment, planners can still support their communities in securing funding for local reforms that increase housing abundance. Here are four tips to explore the wide variety of financial tools available, and a look at how some communities are already using these tips to their advantage.
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March 27, 2025
A variety of federal grant programs are at risk of losing funding due to recent actions by the Trump Administration, including discretionary programs such as Safe Streets for All, RAISE/BUILD grants, and Reconnecting Communities. Here are 7 actions for planners to take when federal grant funds in their communities are in jeopardy.
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March 27, 2025
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has begun to undo a variety of directives from the Biden administration that guided state and federal infrastructure investments. There are potentially troubling signs that progress through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in areas like biking, pedestrian safety, and environmental impacts may be jeopardized.
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March 25, 2025
President Trump signed an Executive Order targeting the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund for elimination.
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March 24, 2025
In mid-March, Congress passed H.R. 1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Extension Act, which President Trump signed into law, stopping a potential government shutdown.
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March 24, 2025
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced an agenda to formally reconsider more than 30 existing rules and regulations. Administrator Zeldin called the effort “the biggest deregulatory action in American history.”
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March 24, 2025
Grant programs from all agencies, including those coming out of the U.S. Department of Transportation grants (USDOT), may be frozen or even taken back due to perceived inconsistency with new guidance from the Trump administration. The new guidance will also change the eligibilities and criteria for future rounds of grants. Here’s what you can do.
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March 24, 2025
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released an updated notice on how communities can plan and use funds for disaster recovery under the CDBG-DR program.
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March 22, 2025
Marjory Stoneman Douglas' groundbreaking advocacy for the Everglades preserved its vital ecosystems and influenced sustainable urban planning practices that continue to guide communities today.
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March 20, 2025
Uncovering JAPA: Learn about rental registries and their role in improving housing transparency while addressing legal and privacy concerns.
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March 19, 2025
While the nation navigates the latest executive orders and highly anticipated bipartisan action on the federal level, state leaders are taking action now to enable the reforms communities need to boost supply. Increasingly, governors are bringing local leaders together with housing policy experts – including planners – to determine ways the state can pave the way for local housing action.
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March 17, 2025
Sponsored Content from UC Berkeley + University of Toronto. Earn CM credits by participating in the Workshop in Urban Data Storytelling, a training program to help planners leverage data analysis and storytelling to advance local urban initiatives.
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March 13, 2025
Uncovering JAPA: Learn more about how the rise of e-commerce and how remote work has led to an oversupply of retail space, revealing a zoning mismatch that urges planners to rethink and repurpose vacant retail areas for more sustainable uses.
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March 13, 2025
How the planners got creative with the city's zoning code and built community coalitions to create housing solutions for people experiencing homelessness.
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March 12, 2025
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Is there is an emerging typology of unconventional homes in rural and exurban areas, and are local development regulations frustrating efforts to build these homes?
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March 6, 2025
Uncovering JAPA: Despite ongoing ADA compliance challenges, especially in transportation infrastructure, emphasize the need for a system-wide approach, greater support, and expanded education to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities.
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March 3, 2025
Determining which agency ultimately has the authority to approve the siting of a new large-scale solar facility can be complicated. About half of all states have have established explicit limits on local siting authority, offer certain developers a way to bypass that authority, or maintain a parallel siting process.
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February 27, 2025
Uncovering JAPA: Discover how AI-enhanced planning can drive urban development while requiring planners to tackle biases, ensure transparency, safeguard privacy, and engage communities to promote ethical and equitable outcomes.
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February 25, 2025
Figuring out whether a potential employer values employee mental health can be overwhelming, but there are ways to prioritize workplace well-being during your job search.
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February 24, 2025
Equity in Practice: The Wong Center in Sacramento, California, offers a roadmap for addressing housing inequities while promoting inclusion and honoring cultural heritage.
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February 21, 2025
President Trump signed the “Unleashing American Energy” Executive Order (EO). The EO rescinds a 1977 Carter-era order that charged the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) with issuing binding standards and regulations implementing NEPA.
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February 21, 2025
News Release: APA's National Planning Conference heads to Denver providing the latest in planning trends and innovations.
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February 20, 2025
Uncovering JAPA: Explore how the 'HeatReady Neighborhoods' rubric helps planners address extreme heat with an equity-focused framework, optimizing local assets and involving residents in climate adaptation strategies.
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February 13, 2025
Uncovering JAPA: Discover how planners can go beyond project management with negotiation, persuasion, and creativity to navigate digital media, advocacy, and development.
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February 12, 2025
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Is it possible to balance human health and public safety in outdoor lighting regulation?
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February 10, 2025
Housing policy stands out as both a nationally prominent priority and an area of potential bipartisanship. As the new administration and 119th Congress take office, there’s a strong existing foundation for action on housing and support for planning-led reforms.
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February 8, 2025
In Memoriam: Professor, author, and leader of rethinking parking policies, Donald Shoup, FAICP, has passed.
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February 7, 2025
Equity in Practice: Kansas City invests in 18th and Vine District to overcome past harms and preserve its cultural heritage.
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February 6, 2025
Uncovering JAPA: Learn how local public libraries act as resilience hubs in the face of economic stressors and extreme weather events — and how planners can support their role in building community resilience.
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February 5, 2025
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released a second round of Pathways to Reducing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) grants. Over $100 million in funding will be distributed to 18 communities nationwide in support of their work to reform outdated and restrictive zoning regulations – a proven approach to increasing housing abundance.
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January 31, 2025
Uncovering JAPA: Discover how policymakers are using computer vision to identify unpermitted ADUs in San José — shedding light on informal housing and the barriers to legal construction.
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January 29, 2025
Now available from APA, the 2025 Trend Report for Planners. Get insights into more than 100 trends that could have big impacts on communities.
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January 28, 2025
An advisory panel helped identify emerging topics and skills that will aid planners in hazard mitigation and climate adaptation as part of APA's partnership with FEMA.
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January 23, 2025
With the new year comes a new Congress and new opportunities to strengthen federal support for housing and zoning reform – APA's top policy priority for 2025.
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January 23, 2025
Uncovering JAPA: Explore how cities are tackling emissions from last-mile deliveries to reshape urban freight and reduce climate impacts.
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January 22, 2025
Sue Schwartz started her tenure at APA president on January 1, 2025.
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January 22, 2025
Erin Purdu, AICP, began her tenure as AICP President on January 1, 2025.
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January 16, 2025
Uncovering JAPA: Discover how basic income trials use unconditional cash to address inequities and guide equity planners toward scalable solutions and policy reforms.
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January 13, 2025
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Could a risk-based approach to managing development along freight rail corridors help communities balance safety and growth?
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January 7, 2025
The Board approved APA's Rules of Conduct. Learn more about the new Welcoming Environment Committee, updated policies and procedures, leadership training, and online resources.
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January 2, 2025
Uncovering JAPA: Discover how an On-Demand Multimodal Transit System (ODMTS) in Atlanta tackled transit challenges by addressing the first/last mile problem.
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December 20, 2024
The past two years have brought about significant changes across the country — but housing supply and zoning reform remain top-of-mind for planners, elected officials, and their communities. Here are four legislative wins planners — and APA — made possible in the 118th Congress.
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December 19, 2024
Uncovering JAPA: Discover how reducing urban roadways by 10 percent, which currently occupy 20-25 percent of urban land, could generate $27.8 billion in annual net benefits and unlock land for alternative uses.
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December 18, 2024
Equity in Practice: The Los Angeles City Planning Department improves access to planning services for residents of South LA, overcoming historical harms and exclusion.
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December 16, 2024
APA Utah President Tippe Morlan, AICP, sits down to talk about how high growth communities in Utah are tackling the housing crisis through zoning reform.
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December 13, 2024
Equity in Practice: Iowa City, Iowa, uses vacant or underused properties to create a path to homeownership and neighborhood revitalization for residents in the South District.
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December 12, 2024
Uncovering JAPA: Climate change is driving salinization of U.S. coastal water supplies, but inconsistent state-level planning and limited resources for small systems highlight the need for stronger governance and adaptive strategies.
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December 12, 2024
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Small farmers must adapt to survive. How can zoning help?
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November 26, 2024
From greenlighting two rounds of pro-housing planning funding to the launch of the Yes in My Backyard Caucus, members of the 118th Congress have demonstrated their willingness to better partner with communities on housing reform.
