Blog
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July 30, 2018
Action Item: Support the Senate Farm Bill
This congressional recess season, we're calling on planning advocates to tell your federal elected officials to support the 2018 Senate Farm Bill before next month's conference on the differing House and Senate bills. -
July 30, 2018
Meeting the Housing Challenge in Norfolk as Sea Levels Rise
Norfolk, Virginia, is facing unique housing challenges from sea-level rise. Planners there are working to give residents more housing options in low-risk flood areas. -
July 30, 2018
What Does the Farm Bill Mean for Planning and Public Health?
Discussions about the next Farm Bill are under way, both in Congress and across the country. Learn more about this multi-year law that authorizes most federal policies governing food and agriculture. -
July 24, 2018
What to Know as Congress Gears Up for Farm Bill Conference
The current farm bill is set to expire on September 30. The House and Senate will meet to confer on bills that differ on policies for farming, land conservation, nutrition programs, planning, and rural development. -
July 23, 2018
House Transportation Chair's Infrastructure Plan Includes Gas Tax Increase
House Transportation Chairman Bill Shuster proposes phased, temporary gas tax increases to fund infrastructure spending and an expanded grant program to fund projects. -
July 1, 2018
Celebrating July 4 in Great Places
Here is how some of the best planned places in the nation — Great Places in America — are celebrating Independence Day. -
June 10, 2018
Latest Housing and Inclusive Growth Resources from APA
Increasing housing choice and affordability, and promoting growth in an inclusive and equitable manner has been on the top of planners’ minds across the country and at APA. Here’s the latest in housing and inclusive growth resources. -
June 4, 2018
Efforts in Motion: Planning, Policy, and Equity
Equity remains one the most important issues facing planners today, and APA is committed to addressing the issue head on through our policy, research, and education work, including the upcoming Planning for Equity Policy Guide. -
June 4, 2018
State-Level Housing Action Heats Up Nationwide
Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Louisiana are among the states making housing news. From inclusionary zoning to affordable housing, these states demonstrate the geographic reach and varying approaches to the housing crisis. -
May 31, 2018
Congress Making Progress on Appropriations, CR Still Likely
Congress is racing to complete as much appropriations work as possible prior to the August recess, but legislators are unlikely to avoid the need for a continuing resolution. -
May 23, 2018
House Appropriators Maintain Some Transportation, HUD Funding Gains
The House Appropriations Committee recently approved a spending bill for transportation and housing programs that maintains some of the dramatic increases to programs made by the FY 2018 omnibus. -
May 17, 2018
Small (But Mighty) Cell: Perspectives from Indiana
As APA focuses on telecommunications as a part of Infrastructure Week 2018, here's a look at technology that’s transforming the way planners engage with wireless: small cell towers. APA's Indiana Chapter shares some insights. -
May 16, 2018
Complete Streets + Green Infrastructure = Vital Streets
This Infrastructure Week we're highlighting the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, which revolutionized its approach to designing, maintaining, and using its streets over the past five years. -
May 15, 2018
House Farm Bill Heads to Vote with Blows to Food Planning Programs
The Farm Bill, expiring in September, is one of the few “must do” items likely to make it across the finish line before election campaign season takes over. Jason Jordan previews the fight ahead. -
May 13, 2018
TIGER Becomes BUILD
The next round of TIGER applications is here, and with it some noteworthy changes to the popular program. Learn about new shifts in the longstanding program and their likely impact on planners. -
May 13, 2018
House Panel Set to Tackle Housing, Transportation Funding for FY 2019
Congress is gearing up to tackle housing and transportation funding questions for FY 2019. Will Congress support the administration’s cuts and return to budget austerity, or will it maintain or increase funding based on current enacted levels? -
April 30, 2018
Navigating ‘One Water’ at NPC18
With New Orleans as the back-drop, NPC attendees learned about the relationship between water resource management and planning and the ‘One Water’ approach at a number of conference events. -
April 8, 2018
APA Great Places and the Power of Advocacy
Read about the benefits of having a Great Place in America in your community, and how planners can leverage it for years to come. -
April 4, 2018
NPC18 Water and Planning Guide: 7 Must-Attend Events
Attend the following water and planning related events at the National Planning Conference to learn about a broad range of topics related to planning for water and addressing water resource challenges. -
April 1, 2018
Critical Planning Programs Fully Funded by the Omnibus
With the passage of the omnibus spending package, federal planning programs are fully funded through fiscal year 2018 (FY18). -
March 25, 2018
California's Urgent Search for Housing Solutions
Housing affordability challenges across the nation are some of the most pressing and controversial. Learn more about California housing legislation and the role of planners. -
March 14, 2018
Infrastructure Remains a Priority, But Funding Still a Question Mark
APA's Policy Director Jason Jordan recaps the latest congressional overtures on an infrastructure package. -
March 5, 2018
Equity As a Skill You Can Learn
Social equity and inclusive growth concerns are among APA's top policy priorities. Learn how you can engage in the process of creating an equity policy guide at NPC18 and beyond. -
March 5, 2018
Transit a Focus of Next DOT Automated Vehicle Policy
The U.S. Department of Transportation held a listening summit in Washington to preview its AV 3.0 guidance set for a summer release date. -
February 28, 2018
Tax Law Creates New Opportunity Zone Program; Planners Must Act Early
The deadline for states to apply for an Opportunity Zone designation is fast approaching. Planners need to act quickly to ensure that their communities do not miss out on this important opportunity. -
February 20, 2018
Taking the "UD" Out of HUD: President's Proposed Budget Kills Off Programs
The President's FY 2019 budget proposal dramatically changes the core functions of HUD by eliminating all community development programs and cutting off funds for renovating and modernizing public housing. -
February 13, 2018
Infrastructure Plan Moves Debate Ahead, Fails to Address Funding
President Trump released his long-awaited infrastructure plan in conjunction with his FY 2019 budget proposal. While the plan pushes debate on infrastructure legislation forward, it fails to address serious funding concerns held by APA and others. -
February 12, 2018
Administration's 2019 Budget Would Devastate Core Planning Programs
Once again, the Trump administration has proposed eliminating federal funding for programs central to good planning. APA believes such attempts only hurt communities, and urges planning advocates to voice their support for these vital programs. -
February 12, 2018
Congress Still Working to Finalize Current Fiscal Year Spending
Congress approved a two-year budget deal that will allow Congress to wrap up work on the current fiscal year 2018 spending and begin initial discussions over the upcoming 2019 fiscal year. -
February 5, 2018
Autonomous Vehicles: States Pave the Way
Technology is rapidly expanding our transit choices, and states are taking notice. What’s new for autonomous vehicles at the state level thus far in 2018? -
January 30, 2018
State of the Union's Infrastructure Aspirations Lofty but Details Scant
APA's Director of Policy Jason Jordan recaps President Trump's first State of the Union Address, the planning issues discussed, and policy issues Congress must address in the days ahead. -
January 25, 2018
Aging in Place: Housing, Supports, Safety
Planners have the ability to create housing options that enable citizens to be independent and to thrive at all ages. One of a series of blog posts on APA's Plan4Health webinar and seminar on “Planning Livable Communities for All Ages." -
January 24, 2018
Federal Government Reopens, Negotiations Continue
The short-lived government shutdown has come to an end, but the underlying policy issues that led to the shutdown still have not been resolved. -
January 22, 2018
Lay of the Land: 2018 State Legislative Sessions
By the end of January, almost 40 state legislatures across the nation will be in session. Get in the know about key issues and players likely to affect planning during the 2018 legislative season. -
January 10, 2018
HUD Extends Assessment of Fair Housing Deadline
In a controversial move, HUD issued a notice effectively suspending new fair housing planning rules until 2020. APA plans to submit comments on the action. -
January 10, 2018
APA Announces Policy Recommendations for Creating Healthy, Active Places
APA’s Healthy Communities Policy Guide identifies policy recommendations for local, state, and federally elected officials with the goal of improving community health and quality of living through planning. -
December 19, 2017
Year in Review: APA Took a Stand for Planning in 2017
With 2018 on the horizon, APA looks forward to advancing smart, federal planning policies by building on the momentum sparked this year. -
December 17, 2017
Most Planning, Development Tools Survive in Tax Reform Compromise
House and Senate conferees have struck a compromise agreement on tax reform. While the bill preserves most planning and development tools, long-term effects of tax reform pose new uncertainties for local planning efforts and communities. -
December 11, 2017
Reimagining the Civic Commons
Reimagining the Civic Commons is a national initiative to foster engagement, equity, environmental sustainability, and economic development in our cities. APA members learned more about the initiative at the 2017 Policy and Advocacy Conference. -
December 4, 2017
Congressional Conference Committee Takes on Tax Reform
Congressional leaders are hoping to complete work on tax reform before the end of the year. The quickest way to accomplish that is reconciling the differences between the House and Senate bills through the conference committee process. -
December 3, 2017
Tax Reform Clears Senate; Key Planning Issues Still at Stake
With both House and Senate tax bills passed, it is now the job of conferees to reconcile the two for a final vote on tax reform before the holiday recess. Here's what APA likes and dislikes about each bill. -
November 29, 2017
Congress Makes No Progress on Finalizing Spending
Congress's deadline for finalizing an FY 18 budget or passing another stop-gap measure funding the government is December 8. Tax reform may have an effect on year-end budget decisions. -
November 20, 2017
For Better Tax Reform, Learn from History
If tax reform is intended to spur economic growth and investment, it should retain historic tax credits (HTCs) — an incentive for boosting private investment in the rehabilitation of old buildings. -
November 20, 2017
Tax Reform Negotiations on the Horizon
Congress heads home for Thanksgiving having made significant progress on tax reform legislation. The House of Representatives passed its bill, and the Senate's legislation will head to the floor soon. -
November 9, 2017
Senate Tax Bill: Key Differences from the House Version
The Senate Finance Committee released a detailed summary of its own tax reform legislation just hours after the long-awaited tax bill hit the floor in the House. -
November 5, 2017
Analysis: Tax Reform Proposal Impacts Housing, Economic Development
The long-awaited tax reform legislation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1), contains provisions that will have potentially significant impacts on housing and economic development activities. -
October 18, 2017
2020 Census Funding Increase Needed Urgently
The 2020 Census faces severe budgetary constraints for the irreplaceable decennial count. Similar problems could be in store for other Census Bureau activities, including the American Community Survey and the already delayed Economic Census. -
October 15, 2017
Planning for Sustainability in the Long Term
Communities across the country are using APA's Comprehensive Plan Standards as a resource for the preparation of their own comprehensive plans. -
October 9, 2017
#PlanningMonth: A Planner’s Bully Pulpit
National Community Planning Month is an opportunity for planners to demonstrate the benefits of smart planning to legislators and the public. -
October 2, 2017
Innovation in Planning Through New Smart Cities Legislation
The overarching theme of National Community Planning Month this year is "innovation in planning." New federal legislation, the Smart Cities and Communities Act, aims at spurring the development of smart cities technology.
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