Smart Growth America – a national nonprofit that advocates for better cities, towns, and neighborhoods — announced today that Macon-Bibb has been selected to receive a free two-day technical assistance workshop in 2015. (The date and location of that workshop have not yet been set.) Through the support and guidance of our Strong Cities, Strong Communities Initiative team, Macon-Bibb developed an application that was one of 14 selected from more than 120 applications submitted from 35 states.
“With the growing downtown presence of Navicent Health and Mercer University – as well as the growth of private businesses and increase in people living in the area – this is a key moment to ensure we are growing in a sustainable manner that promotes a walkable, bikeable, and equitable community,” says Macon-Bibb Mayor Robert Reichert.
Macon-Bibb was the only city in Georgia selected for the program and was chosen because of a demonstrated need for education and assistance with sustainable growth strategies and best practices. With a renewed effort to revitalize its urban core through projects such as ongoing loft developments, the Second Street Corridor, and the Macon Action Plan, and successful efforts like the College Hill Corridor and NewTown Macon, Macon-Bibb expressed a need for assistance with ensuring efforts are linked, sustainable, and have an impact on the entire community. Macon-Bibb wants to help local businesses, the community, and government administrators clearly define parameters of smart growth strategies and polices.
“This award is a testament to the hard work Macon-Bibb has already done,” said Roger Millar, Vice President of Smart Growth America’s Leadership Institute. “Our program was more competitive this year than ever before, and Macon-Bibb stood out as a community doing great work. We’re excited to be able to help you continue on to the next stage of this work.”
About Smart Growth America’s Free Technical Assistance
Smart Growth America offers twelve types of technical assistance workshops that help communities build stronger local economies, protect the environment, preserve sense of place and improve overall quality of life. The technical assistance is funded through a grant to Smart Growth America from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Sustainable Communities under their Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program. The Building Blocks program funds quick, targeted assistance to communities that face common development problems. Through the program, Smart Growth America has already provided free assistance to over 50 communities across the United States, from Hawaii to Maine.
Smart Growth America is the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring smart growth practices to more communities nationwide. From providing more sidewalks to ensuring more homes are built near public transportation or that productive farms remain a part of our communities, smart growth helps make sure people across the nation can live in great neighborhoods. For additional information visit www.smartgrowthamerica.org.
Smart Growth America received more than 120 applications for technical assistance from 35 states for its 2015 workshops. The full list of winning communities includes: Cheyenne Metropolitan Planning Organization, WY; City of Bentonville, AR; City of Charlottesville, VA; City of Columbia, MO; City of Fort Pierre, SD; City of Franklin, TN; City of Indianapolis, IN; City of Knoxville, TN; City of Sanford, FL; City of SeaTac, WA; City of Spokane, WA; Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization, TN; Macon-Bibb County, GA; and Tucker County Planning Commission, WV.