FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 29, 2014
Green River selected to receive free smart growth technical assistance workshop
CONTACT: Laura Leigh, lleigh@cityofgreenriver.org
Roger Millar, assistance@smartgrowthamerica.org, 406-544-1963
Green River, Wyoming – Smart Growth America today announced that the City of Green River was selected as one of 18 communities to receive the organization’s 2014 free smart growth technical assistance program. Green River will receive a 1- or 2-day training session with an expert from Smart Growth America on Smart Growth Zoning Codes for Small Cities. This technical assistance is made possible through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program.
In regard to the selection of Green River as a recipient of this award, Laura Leigh, Director of Community Development commented, “I am very excited about the opportunity to learn about potential areas of revision to our existing zoning code. The “cookie-cutter” codes that were adopted in large cities were used as a template in the drafting of Green River’s zoning and subdivision ordinances. This is the case for many small cities throughout the United States. Unfortunately, what can be applied in a large city oftentimes is not the best fit for smaller communities such as Green River. However, this is what Green River has been operating under for nearly forty years. The community’s input that was provided in the City’s Comprehensive Plan update (adopted January 2013), Governing Body’s Strategic Plan, and more recent Community Assessment supports the need to review and update our development codes to bring them in line with the community’s vision of Green River.”
“Smart Growth America is committed to providing the tools and training to help community leaders keep their cities and towns livable, sustainable and vital places,” said Roger Millar, Vice President of Smart Growth America’s Leadership Institute. “We are excited about working with each of these communities to develop local solutions that support thriving places now and for generations to come.”
Smart Growth America received nearly 100 applications for technical assistance from 40 states. While all of the applications were worthy, the 18 communities selected to receive technical assistance exhibited the strongest interest in and need for smart growth tools and clearly demonstrated a commitment from local business, community and political leaders to implement local smart growth solutions.
The 18 selected communities are: City of Emmett, ID; City of Green River, WY; City of Hot Springs, AR; City of Huntington, WV; City of Indianapolis, IN: City of Memphis, TN; City of Portsmouth, NH; City of Salisbury, MD; City of San Diego, CA; County of Kauai, HI; Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, IA; East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, FL; Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes of Poplar, MT; Kenosha County, WI; Person County, NC; North Central Texas Council of Governments, TX; Pasco County, FL; and Town of Queensbury, NY.
Past technical assistance workshops focused on issues including transit-oriented development, Complete Streets, smart growth zoning, parking management, economic development and fiscal health and transportation performance measurement, among others.
About Smart Growth America’s free technical assistance
Smart Growth America offers twelve “ready-to-go” technical assistance tools 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.
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. Smart growth helps make sure people across the nation can live in great neighborhoods. For additional information visit www.smartgrowthamerica.org.