Making Smart Growth Happen

EPA offers many tools and resources to help communities learn about and implement smart growth approaches. Please also see the resource list of topics, education and outreach resources, and examples of smart growth communities and projects available on our site.

Smart Growth Implementation Assistance - Technical assistance for localities that want to incorporate smart growth techniques into their future development.
Smart Growth Implementation Assistance for Coastal Communities (EPA and NOAA) - Technical assistance through Sea Grant universities to help communities develop in ways that meet environmental and other goals.
Special technical assistance projects: Additional technical assistance projects done in partnership with other entities.

Examples of Codes That Support Smart Growth Development - Sample codes and ordinances that support smart growth.
Sample Requests for Proposals (RFPs) - Examples of RFPs issued by communities to find consultants experienced in smart growth to work on plan updates.
Model Course Prospectuses: Teaching smart growth at colleges and universities - A compilation of course prospectuses that offer students hands-on experience in smart growth issues.
Smart Growth Scorecards: Useful examples from across the country - Sample scorecards that can help communities assess their development patterns and related aspects like walkability.

Smart Growth Network - Partnership of more than 30 national organizations that promote smart growth and offer resources to help communities.
Governors' Institute on Community Design - Helps governors to share information and learn about tools and strategies to help their states develop in an environmentally sound, economically sustainable way.
Regional Smart Growth Alliances - Urban Land Institute project, partially funded by EPA, to create regional alliances to promote smart growth development.
Memorandum of Agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - EPA and NOAA partnership to improve the quality of development in coastal communities.
Memorandum of Understanding with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) (PDF) (3 pp, 366 K, About PDF) - EPA and AIA agreement to work together to promote sustainable development and green building.

EPA Smart Growth Grants and Other Funding Sources - Funding from EPA and other sources to assist local and state governments, communities, and non-governmental organizations that are seeking to address various aspects of smart growth.