In the past, different government jurisdictions have conflicted over such policies as land use, watershed treatment, transportation, and taxation. This often impeded solutions to community problems. Now more communities are cooperating with neighbors or a larger regional body to solve common problems. This section contains some examples.
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Alliance for Redesigning Government, National Academy of Public Administration, 1120 G St., NW, Suite 850, Washington, DC 20005, Tel: 202.347.3190, Fax: 202.347.3252, Email: innovate@napawah.org, Website: http://www.alliance.napawash.org. The Alliance is the center of a national network and clearinghouse for state, local, and federal innovators, nonprofit and corporate leaders, and scholars who advocate performance-based, results-driven governance.
Alliance for Regional Stewardship (ARS), 350 Cambridge Avenue, Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA 94306, Tel: 650.614.0230, Fax: 650.614.0240, Email: info@regionalstewardship.org, Website: http://www.regionalstewardship.org. The Alliance is a civic community national network of regional leaders addressing the long-term well-being of their regions in four spheres: new economy, livable community, social inclusion and governance.
The Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy, The Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036, Tel: 202.797.6139, Fax: 202.797.2965, Email: brookinfo@brook.edu, Website: http://www.brook.edu/es/urban/urban.htm. The Center seeks to shape a new generation of urban policies that will help build strong cities and metropolitan regions.
Florida Sustainable Communities Center (FSCC), c/o Florida Department of Community Affairs, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100, Tel: 850.922.1600, Fax: 850.922.9881, Website: http://sustainable.state.fl.us. FSSC, an Internet project of the FL Dept. of Community Affairs, provides peer-to-peer communication opportunities, streamlined access to information and resources for enhancing sustainability, and a collaborative framework for designing policies and plans.
Institute for The Regional Community (ITRC), 1799 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006, Tel: 202.457.0710, Fax: 202.296.9352, Website: http://www.narc.org/itrc. ITRC, a program of the National Association of Regional Councils, works to promote regional policy processes through conference sponsorship, a quarterly journal called The Regionalist, and a clearinghouse for information on regional collaboration skills and approaches.
Joint Center for Sustainable Communities, Website: http://www.naco.org/programs/comm_dev/center/about.cfm. The Joint Center, a partnership of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Association of Counties, promotes cities and counties working together for a livable future. It fosters sustainable communities by providing local elected officials with advice, information, and financial support through a variety of programs.
Local Government Commission (LGC), 1414 K St., Suite 250, Sacramento, CA 95814, Tel: 916.448.1198, Fax: 916.448.8246, Email: lgc@dcn.davis.ca.us, Website: http://www.lgc.org. The LGC provides a forum and technical assistance to enhance the ability of local governments to create and sustain healthy environments, healthy economies, and social equity.
Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance, Minnesota Sustainable Communities Network, 520 Lafayette Road N, 2nd floor, St. Paul, MN 55155-4100, Tel: 800.877.6300; 612.215.0232, Fax: 612.215.0246 This network consists of individuals and organizations in Minnesota (and bordering areas) who are interested in moving towards sustainability.
National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals (NALGEP), 1350 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005, Tel: 202.638.6254, Fax: 202.393.2866, Email: NALGEP@spiegelmcd.com, Website: http://www.nalgep.org. NALGEP brings together local government officials to network and share information on innovative environmental practices, conduct environmental policy projects, promote environmental training and education, and communicate the view of local environmental officials on national environmental issues.
National Association of Regional Councils (NARC), 1700 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006, Tel: 202.457.0710, Email: narc@narc.org, Website: http://www.narc.org. NARC offers technical assistance, educational services and public policy support to local government officials in agencies around the country.
National Association of Towns and Townships (NATaT), 444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 208, Washington, DC 20011, Tel: 202.624.3550, Fax: 202.624.3554, Email: natat@sso.org, Website: http://natat.org. NATaT seeks to strengthen the effectiveness of town and township government by educating lawmakers and public policy officials about how small town governments operate and by advocating policies on their behalf in Washington, DC.
National Center for Small Communities (NCSC), 444 North Capitol Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001, Tel: 202.624.3550, Fax: 202.624.3554, Email: ncsc@sso.org, Website: http://www.natat.org NCSC provides local government officials and community leaders with a broad range of training materials, community problem-solving strategies, public policy research and other resources.
National Neighborhood Coalition (NNC), 1030 15th Street, NW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20005, Tel: 202.408.8553, Fax: 202.408.8551, Email: nncnnc@erols.com, Website: http://www.neighborhoodcoalition.org. The NNC serves as a link to Washington for neighborhood and community-based organizations and a networking resource for representatives of regional and national organizations involved in community development, housing and a wide range of other neighborhood issues. Its Neighborhoods, Regions and Smart Growth Project promotes community-based organizations as essential advocates for and planners and practitioners of equitable, neighborhood-focused smart growth.
Northeast-Midwest Institute, 218 D Street, S.E., Washington, DC 20003, Tel: 202.544.5200, Fax: 202.544.0043, Website: http://www.nemw.org. This nonprofit and public education organization seeks to enhance the region's economic vitality and environmental quality. It conducts research, develops public policies, provides technical assistance, sponsors regional conferences, and distributes publications.
US EPA Resources for NonProfit Organizations, Tel: 202.260.2623, Website: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/nonprof.htm. This Environmental Protection Agency site was created to provide nonprofit groups easier access to environmental and public health information.
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American Institute of Architects. "Survey of State and Local Officials on Livable Communities." E-Architect, September 1999. This survey identifies what factors state and local policy makers view as most important in making a community "livable". This resource can be found online at: http://www.e-architect.com/gov/livcomsurvey/home2.asp.
Hempel, Marilyn. Community Sustainability Survey: Is Your Community Becoming More -- Or Less -- Sustainable?. (Claremont, CA: League of Women Voters Population Coalition, 1996). To obtain this resource contact the LWV Population Coalition, 1476 N. Indian Hill Boulevard, Claremont, CA 91711.
International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). Tools for a Sustainable Community: A One-Stop Guide for U.S. Local Governments. (ICLEI, 1997). This online resource covers topics such as technical assistance, financial help, publications, and internet sites. This resource can be found online at: http://www.iclei.org/la21/onestop.htm.
Institute for The Regional Community (ITRC). Suggested Readings on Regional Partnerships. This online bibliography contains a variety of books and articles on regional planning and economics. This resource can be found online at: http://www.nacr.org/itrc/resource.html.
New Jersey Interagency Sustainability Working Group. Governing with the Future in Mind: Working Together to Enhance New Jersey's Sustainability and Quality of Life. (December 2001). This report details the strategic initiatives that the state government is pursuing to promote sustainability and provides recommendations to further advance the Sustainable State initiative in New Jersey. This resource can be found online at: http://www.dep.state.nj.us.
Oregon State University Extension Service. Looking for Oregon's Future: What is Sustainability?. (November 2001). This publication is designed to encourage discussion on the big questions surrounding sustainability and what sustainability means to the lives of the people of Oregon. To obtain this resource contact Publications Orders, Extension & Station Communications, Oregon State University, 422 Kerr Adminstration, Corvallis, OR 97331-2119; Tel: 800.561.6719; Email: puborders@orst.edu. This resource can be found online at: http://www.oregonfuture.oregonstate.edu.
Program for Community Problem Solving. Systems Reform and Local Government: Improving Outcomes for Children, Families, and Neighborhoods. This working paper details the components and importance of efforts from the grassroots to city hall to make government more effective, efficient, responsive, and participatory for ordinary citizens. To obtain this resource contact Program for Community Problem Solving, 1319 F Street, NW, Suite 204, Washington DC 20004; Tel: 202.783.2961; Fax: 202.347.2161.
Sale, Kirkpatrick. Dwellers in the Land: The Bioregional Vision. (Gabriola Island, BC, Canada: New Society Publishers, 1991). To obtain this resource contact: New Society Publishers, P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, VORIXO, Canada; Tel: 800.333.9093; Fax: 604.247.7471.
Tri-State Implementation Council--Federal and state agencies established a community-based coordinating council to improve water quality in a key river basin, through education, treatment, and land use initiatives.
Iowa Energy Programs, DesMoines, Iowa--A state natural resources agency is providing financial and technical assistance and working with communities to conserve energy and promote the use of alternative energy sources.
Northern Delaware Greenway Council, Inc., Wilmington, De.--A state-wide, non-profit organization is working with government agencies, businesses and other non-profits to establish a series of ecological greenways.
United Nations, Habitat Conference Follow-up, Website: http://www.un.org/Conferences/habitat/unchs/press/bestpr.htm. A summary of best practices featured at Habitat II. Back to Top
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Sustainable Communities Network (SCN) Revised March 7, 2002