Blog
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April 21, 2023
It Takes a Planner: Communicating Your Value to Policymakers
APA is launching “It Takes a Planner”, an effort aimed at building the influence of planners among state and local elected and appointed officials. -
March 24, 2023
State of the State Addresses Aim to Tackle the Housing Crisis
Governors address housing policies in state of state addresses in 2023. -
January 20, 2023
What to Expect in State Legislatures on Zoning Reform in 2023
State legislatures in 2022 focused on increasing affordable housing within their respective regions. The trend of state legislatures preempting zoning reform is expected to continue in 2023 across the country. -
January 10, 2023
Congress Funds New ‘YIMBY’ Grants for Zoning Reform
Congress passes a new $85 million grant program aimed at zoning reform. The funding represents a new and significant incentive and support for local zoning reform and planning for housing affordability. -
September 20, 2022
Five+ Federal Infrastructure Programs Every Planner Should Know
The passage of the landmark Bipartisan Infrastucture Law saw the largest direct investment in community planning in a century. Here are 5+ new or expanded programs created by BIL that every planner should know about right now. -
July 18, 2022
Housing Scarcity Is Worse Than Ever
A recent report demonstrates that the underproduction of housing units affects 47 states and Washington D.C., and its impacts are being felt in all kinds of places, from dense urban areas to small, rural towns. -
May 17, 2022
Addressing the Nation's Housing Crisis
Get the latest information on housing reforms at state and federal levels, including the Biden administration's launch of the Housing Supply Action Plan. -
March 14, 2022
Planners’ Input on Broadband Sought by Biden Administration
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is preparing rules for implementing new federal broadband programs authorized and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Planners are actively working with administration officials to ensure that any new regulations proposed to support implementation position communities to better plan for broadband. -
November 4, 2021
White House Embraces Federal Zoning Reform Provision
New federal support for zoning reform is in President Biden's Build Back Better framework thanks to planners' advocacy. White House leaders recently made the case for why tackling zoning and housing supply challenges is at the center of the President's economic agenda. -
Climate, Equity, Housing, & Infrastructure at #APAPolicy21
From housing to infrastructure, see what key decision makers and planners talked about during the 2021 APA Policy and Advocacy Conference. -
August 4, 2021
Pro-Planning Infrastructure Bill Poised to Clear Senate Hurdle
Planners' infrastructure priorities will hit an important milestone later this week (August 4, 2021) when the Senate passes the bipartisan infrastructure bill. -
July 13, 2021
States Take Aim at Carbon Emissions and Climate Consequences
State governments are finding new ways to amplify local and regional planning efforts that take aim at curbing harmful carbon emissions and ensuring climate impacts do not disproportionately burden underserved communities. Here is a look at some actions states are taking to help communities secure net-zero futures. -
May 20, 2021
Advocating For Zoning Reform
Catch up on the latest efforts by planners who are leading zoning reform across the country. -
April 13, 2021
Connecticut Planners Take Zoning Reform Fight to the State
Zoning reform efforts are underway in Connecticut, a state with a long history of exclusionary zoning. Several bills that aim to tackle zoning reform are in play at the legislature this session — and planners are weighing in. -
April 2, 2021
Federal Housing Bill Creates New Support and Incentives For Planning
A bipartisan bill that would empower planners to reform zoning and development codes, create housing action plans, and modernize regulatory structures has been introduced in Congress. -
April 2, 2021
Administration’s Bold Infrastructure Plan Holds Promise For Planners, But Questions Remain
Planners and communities are eager to see transformational infrastructure policy move forward in Washington. While President Biden's infrastructure plan offers much promise, there are also important questions that remain unanswered about support for planning-led solutions in any infrastructure package. -
March 25, 2021
Return of Congressional Earmarks Marks New Funding Opportunity For Planners
Earmarks are back on Capitol Hill, giving planners a new pathway for securing funding for critical projects. APA's Jason Jordan breaks down what planners need to know to secure federal support for transportation project earmarks. -
February 25, 2021
What Planners Should Know About the Current COVID Relief Bill
The latest coronavirus relief bill has only one legislative hurdle to clear before becoming law. With the House of Representatives expected to vote on the final legislation tomorrow, planners will see federal action on one of our four legislative priorities this week. -
January 27, 2021
Planners Secure Zoning Reform Win in Massachusetts
A new economic development bill includes provisions that will make it easier for towns and cities across Massachusetts to produce more housing by greenlighting certain local zoning changes with a simple majority vote. -
January 26, 2021
Action Already Underway for 2021 Legislative Priorities
The beginning of the Biden administration and the 117th Congress have been marked with quick action on many of APA's top legislative priorities for 2021. -
Planners' Activism Spurred Congress to Act for Communities
Despite an unusually contentious and unpredictable two-year session, the 116th Congress acted on several long-time APA legislative priorities. -
December 16, 2020
Planners Poised to Play Prominent Role in Presidential Transition
Planners are advising President-elect Joe Biden's transition team, which could mean more opportunities to build federal support for planning and planning-related programs in the next four years. -
October 14, 2020
APA Urges Census Count to Continue
In light of the October 13, 2020, decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, APA urges the Census Bureau to continue the decennial count through the end of the month. -
Maintaining Advocacy Momentum: Three Steps for Planners
Three ways planners can keep up the advocacy momentum for the remainder of 2020. -
4 Cost-Effective Ways Planners Can Boost Census Response
With less than a month before the end of data collection for the 2020 Census, planners are making final efforts to help increase self-response rates in the hardest-to-count neighborhoods. -
August 19, 2020
Centering Planning in the Federal Surface Transportation Debate
With the nation's current surface transportation law set to expire next month, APA Policy Director Jason Jordan explores the path to reauthorization legislation and the status of key planning priorities. -
July 28, 2020
Planners Demand Emergency Funding for State, Local Governments
Negotiations on a new wave of federal emergency assistance are underway in Congress — but direct support for states and communities remains a sticking point. -
July 9, 2020
As States Distribute Funds, More Relief Needed for Communities
It is critical that states distribute federal stimulus funds from CARES Act equitably and efficiently, and we continue advocacy for additional federal relief for state and local governments. -
Congress Looks to Planning as a Climate Crisis Solution
A new congressional climate action plan positions planning as one solution to tackling climate change. APA supported the creation of the plan by contributing ideas for how federal climate policy can set the context for effective local and regional plans. -
May 7, 2020
Will Congress Deliver the Relief Communities Need to Avoid Fiscal Calamity?
Communities are facing mounting fiscal pressures as expenditures skyrocket and revenues quickly dry up. APA has joined with leading national organizations to urge Congress to provide robust, flexible relief for municipalities and states now. -
May 6, 2020
The Economic State of the States
A look at the economic state of the states at this point in the COVID-19 pandemic — and why planners are so critical to response and recovery. -
April 28, 2020
How to Help Your Community Access CARES Act Aid
The CARES Act provides local governments with relief aid to address the immediate economic impact of COVID-19. Be in the know about how to help your community access CARES Act aid. -
February 3, 2020
3 Top Issues for Planners in 2020 State Legislatures
As 2020 state legislative sessions start up, here are three top issues for planners. -
August 6, 2019
Address the Nation’s Housing Crisis: Action for the States
State legislation is a part of housing reform. Here are APA's actions for the states. -
Federal Surface Transportation Debate Shifts Into High Gear
The nation's current surface transportation law is set to expire on September 30, 2020. Learn where work on the bill stands now, the legislative process ahead, and how planners can influence the outcome. -
"If I'd Heard From Just One Constituent..."
The constituent voice is critical for elected officials as they make decisions. Take a peek at how planners elevated their voices at the state level as 2019 legislative sessions wrap up. -
July 11, 2019
Mayors Are Addressing the Housing Crisis — And Planning Is Part of the Solution
Read about the three key housing crisis takeaways for planners in the new National League of Cities Housing Task Force report, Homeward Bound. -
July 1, 2019
What Did and Didn't Change With the Supreme Court’s Knick Decision
APA Amicus Committee Chair John Baker explains what the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn a longstanding property takings precedent means for planners. -
Washington Talks Infrastructure: Will This Time Be Different?
APA Policy Director Jason Jordan reviews the current state of legislative debates on infrastructure in Washington and explores the ways in which APA and its planning advocates are influencing policy ideas in the making. -
Street Air on Earth Day
Members of the Street Air Project have studied the air pollution problem in Bay View, California, with the goal of quantifying the issues and seeking scientific and planning-related solutions. -
March 29, 2019
A New Planning Partnership Brings Art to Public Spaces
Forecast Public Art is collaborating with APA to identify and address gaps at the intersection of public art and planning practice. -
Expanding California's Leadership in Diversifying the Planning Profession
What does diversity and inclusion mean to APA, the planning profession, and planners' efforts to address diversity, inclusion, and equity in planning? Hear from two planners about the road to progress in California. -
January 29, 2019
Four Plans for Shaping the Future of Puerto Rico
A summary of four plans that will shape Puerto Rico’s response to the urgent humanitarian needs of the island’s residents after Hurricanes Irma and Maria. -
APA’s Impact on the 115th Congress
A look back at the ways that APA advocacy made a difference in the 115th Congress. -
November 20, 2018
Three Issues Congress Must Grapple With in 2018 Lame Duck Session
The final act of the 115th Congress is under way and the “lame duck” session has a number of pending issues and imminent deadlines, including appropriations, the Farm Bill, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). -
November 7, 2018
10 Takeaways from the 2018 Midterm Elections
The 2018 Midterm Elections delivered historic firsts and set the stage for shifts in power likely to affect legislative outcomes on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures nationwide. APA reviews the key takeaways. -
October 26, 2018
Planners at the Polls: Housing, Infrastructure on 2018 Ballots
State and local ballot measures are driving voters to the polls this fall. We are watching some key planning-related measures that could have an impact on your community. -
October 15, 2018
This Year’s Big Planning Idea: Unlocking the Value of Land
Land value capture — the concept behind several mechanisms to finance infrastructure, affordable housing, and other key components of urban development — was rich food for thought at the 2018 Daniel Burnham Forum on Big Ideas. -
October 12, 2018
Hazard Mitigation Reforms Hitch a Ride on FAA Bill
Congressional legislation reauthorizing the FAA included important reforms that promote hazard mitigation and resiliency. The legislation marks one of the most sweeping changes to federal hazard programs in years. -
October 9, 2018
Addressing Housing Solutions in Washington and Beyond
Housing issues took center stage at this year’s APA Policy and Advocacy Conference. Discussions of the nation’s housing crisis and new solutions to address housing affordability were the clear themes and focus.
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