NMDC looks to the future of regional planning with aid from Smart Growth America’s Technical Assistance

AROOSTOOK COUNTY - Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) is the recipient of a Smart Growth America technical assistance grant.

The Regional Planning for Small Communities Workshop will help municipalities located in the Washington-Aroostook Economic Development District understand, plan for, and manage growth in a regional context. Organizers will hold the workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 7 to 9 p.m. in NMDC's Board Room in Caribou with videoconferences available in Houlton, Fort Kent, Calais, and Machias.

Representatives from Smart Growth America as part of a free, grant-funded technical assistance program will present materials at the workshop aimed at assisting the Washington-Aroostook Economic Development District implement a Smart Growth technical assistance program. The workshop will help the region develop the capacity to identify where growth is most likely to occur and to create strategies for managing growth that preserve community character while enhancing economic competitiveness and quality of life.

In September 2011, Smart Growth America chose the Washington-Aroostook Economic Development District as one of 15 communities nationwide selected from a pool of 90 applications to participate in the technical assistance program. Stretching from Florida to Washington State, these 15 communities represent major cities, suburban centers, and rural towns alike.

"Smart Growth America is committed to providing the tools and training to help community leaders keep their cities and towns livable, sustainable and vital places," said Roger Millar, Director of Smart Growth America's Leadership Institute. "We hope that our workshop will help local leaders align federal, state and local resources so they can direct growth in a way that benefits their communities while preserving Maine's rural heritage and traditions."

The program, made possible through a five-year Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Sustainable Communities, seeks to develop local planning solutions that help communities grow in ways that benefit families and businesses, while protecting the environment and preserving a sense of place. Three other nonprofit organizations-Forterra, Global Green USA and Project for Public Spaces-also received competitively awarded grants this year to help communities get the kinds of development they want.

As a national leader in the field, Smart Growth America has accumulated extensive experience working with communities to help them use land strategically, make the most of existing resources and invest strategically to catalyze private development.

Smart Growth America is the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring smart growth practices to more communities nationwide. From providing more sidewalks to ensuring more homes are built near public transportation or that productive farms remain a part of our communities, smart growth helps make sure people across the nation can live in great neighborhoods.

For additional information visit www.smartgrowthamerica.org.

Northern Maine Development Commission is a regional development organization that provides planning, economic and community development, business loans and packaging, geographic information system services, and small business counseling services to the northern Maine region.