Community Planning Assistance Teams
APA organizes volunteer planning teams tailored specifically to a community's needs. Members offer their time and expertise to people and places where additional resources are needed. This program is supported through donations.
Why CPAT?
- By pairing a multidisciplinary team of expert planning professionals from around the country with community members, key stakeholders, and relevant decision makers, the place-based initiative seeks to foster community education, engagement, and empowerment.
- Each team is selected for the specific expertise needed on the project to offer pro bono assistance in developing a framework or vision plan that promotes a sustainable, livable, economically vibrant, and healthy community.
- Communities facing a range of challenges including, but not limited to, social equity and affordability, economic development, sustainability, consensus building, and urban design are well-suited for assistance through the program.
- Projects focus on localities with a demonstrated need for assistance, where planning resources and expertise may not otherwise be available.
- CPAT projects are collaborative efforts with shared responsibilities. CPATs and communities work together throughout the process.
- APA contributes the time of its staff and volunteer experts while the recipient communities cover travel costs.
APA Wants to Help Your Community!
Proposals from or inquiries about projects from communities are accepted anytime
How do I know if my project is ready for a CPAT?
CPATs offer a tremendous amount of work and expertise, but projects must be focused enough to accomplish the objectives. The timing must also be right. Is the community ready to address the issues or goals of the project? How will a CPAT build on any of your previous efforts? What do you intend to change as a result of a CPAT project?
E-mail SpreadTheWord@planning.org to receive an auto-response with an outreach template.
Attention Planners! Want to Give Back?
Experienced planning professional? Want to help a community by joining a team? Sign up now!
Related Resources
Resources for APA Chapters and Divisions
Completed Projects
2016
2015
2014
Pine Hills, Orange County, Florida
2013
Laney Walker / Bethlehem, Augusta, Georgia
2012
Seven Ranches Area – Maricopa, Arizona
2011
Crestdale — Matthews, North Carolina
Program History
The CPAT program was relaunched in 2011 and has grown significantly since that time. The practice of providing pro bono technical assistance to communities is not new to APA, however, with volunteer teams dating back to 1995.
2009
Buzzard Point, Washington, D.C.
2003-2004
1995 — Inaugural Project
2005-2008 — Katrina/Gulf Coast Recovery