North and South Carolina are aggressively diversifying their economies to survive a devastating loss of the region's manufacturing base.
"The Carolinas continue to revamp and diversify their economies as they try to weather the storm that has seen much of their traditional manufacturing base, especially in textiles, unravel over the past three years. North Carolina has lost nearly 30,000 textile jobs since the start of 2001. South Carolina lost 4,200 textile jobs during the year running from September 2002 to September 2003. Both states see various forms of high technology as their salvation... North Carolina state officials are touting their latest economic-development tool, the job development investment grant program (JDIG), giving it credit for bringing in 1,580 jobs and $50.5 million in investment during a six-month period (May to October) in 2003. Created by the General Assembly in 2002, JDIG provides grants to new and expanding companies deemed 'strategically important.' "
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: The Carolinas Cultivate Their Stronger Sectors

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research