Funding

Free ‘Bootcamps’ Help Small Cities Secure Federal Grants for Infrastructure
Participants in the Local Infrastructure Hub bootcamps have a 40 percent success rate on federal grant applications for transportation, climate, food mitigation, rail, and broadband projects.

Ohio Announces 320 'Opportunity Zones'
The new Opportunity Zones program is one to watch as states around the country throw their hats in the ring.

Texas Designates 628 Opportunity Zones
The state of Texas gives an early indication of the potential scale of the new Opportunity Zones program—an emerging program that will be rolling out across the country in the coming days and weeks.

Explained: The Risks Facing the 2020 Census
Why some experts are very concerned that Census 2020 will fail the democracy that depends on it.
Four Cities to Explore the Frontiers of Infrastructure Finance
City Accelerator selected four cities to test new options for financing the infrastructure investments of the 21st century and beyond.

The Great Debate: Which Infrastructure System Most Needs Repair?
The New York Times created a "Room for Debate" feature offering four points of view on the subject of infrastructure repair.
How Social Impact Bonds Close the Funding Gap
The number of social impact bond programs in the United States has expanded quickly, to eight, with examples found in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Utah, and, now, California.
Trails Win Big in Florida's 2015-16 State Budget
Florida Governor Rick Scott approved a $78 billion state budget last week, which includes $25 million for a statewide network of non-motorized trails.
A Progress Report for the New Markets Tax Credit Program
During the ups and downs of recovery, acquiring and making the most of funding has been critical for distressed communities. A new report details the recent results from one such source, the New Markets Tax Credit program.
A Call for Mayor de Blasio to Fund New York's Public Libraries
The New York Times editorial board questions the priorities of a city that can support sports facilities with hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds but neglects its libraries.
Evaluating California's SB 375 Implementation So Far
Julie Pierce, city of Clayton councilmember, chair of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, and president of the Association of Bay Area Governments, evaluates the effects of SB 375, California's key land use law to address climate change .
Durham, NC Moving ahead with High-Profile Projects
Durham City Council members may be ready to take on new debt to fund a list of big-ticket parks and transportation projects which would help keep pace with growth and enhance the community.

Evaluating Public Transport Funding Options
Many jurisdictions need additional funding to improve, or just maintain, their public transport services. A timely new study evaluates eighteen potential funding options according to eight criteria.
Only Federal Funding Will Deliver Sydney's Second Airport
New South Wales' new planning minister has called on Australia's federal government to decide and fund much needed infrastructure.
Could Non-Profit Ownership Be the Solution to Transit Funding Woes?
A scholar and former New York City planner has an interesting idea for improving the financial state of America's often beleaguered public transit systems: let non-profits run them instead of public agencies. Eric Jaffe explains his reasoning.
Who Should Pay for Parks?
Philadelphia spends $64 on parks and recreation facilities per resident, one of the lowest totals in the nation. Ryan Briggs uses the city as a lens to examine the growing impact of budget cuts to park systems on their surrounding communities.
What the Sandy Recovery Bill Gets Wrong
This week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a two-part bill to fund the recovery from Hurricane Sandy. In an essay written prior to the vote, Rob Young criticizes the rush to approve rebuilding the entire coast as it was before the storm.
Tax Parking to Fund Public Transit?
In Massachusetts, transportation funding is one of the key issues to be addressed by the state legislature this year. James Aloisi, former Transportation Secretary, offers an inventive way to fund Transit Improvement Districts.
Preservation Effort Defunded
Congress is likely to stop funding Save America's Treasures, a project that had contributed hundreds of millions of dollars for historic preservation efforts.
Private Sector the First Stop in Public Project Fundraising
When Toronto City Councilor Kristyn Wong-Tam wanted to raise money for a street redesign project, she went directly to the private sector. They raised the money and recently released the master plan for their proposed street project.
Pagination
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