Blog
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March 27, 2025
7 Actions for Planners Facing Insecure Federal Funding
A variety of federal grant programs are at risk of losing funding due to recent actions by the Trump Administration, including discretionary programs such as Safe Streets for All, RAISE/BUILD grants, and Reconnecting Communities. Here are 7 actions for planners to take when federal grant funds in their communities are in jeopardy. -
March 25, 2025
New Executive Order Targets Community Development Financial Institutions
President Trump signed an Executive Order targeting the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund for elimination. -
March 24, 2025
Continuing Resolution Averts Shutdown
In mid-March, Congress passed H.R. 1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Extension Act, which President Trump signed into law, stopping a potential government shutdown. -
March 24, 2025
How Can YOU Help Protect Federal Grants?
Grant programs from all agencies, including those coming out of the U.S. Department of Transportation grants (USDOT), may be frozen or even taken back due to perceived inconsistency with new guidance from the Trump administration. The new guidance will also change the eligibilities and criteria for future rounds of grants. Here’s what you can do. -
March 6, 2025
Transportation Workers’ Perspectives on ADA
Uncovering JAPA: Despite ongoing ADA compliance challenges, especially in transportation infrastructure, emphasize the need for a system-wide approach, greater support, and expanded education to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities. -
March 3, 2025
Wait, Who Approves Large-Scale Solar Siting?
Determining which agency ultimately has the authority to approve the siting of a new large-scale solar facility can be complicated. About half of all states have have established explicit limits on local siting authority, offer certain developers a way to bypass that authority, or maintain a parallel siting process. -
February 10, 2025
What's Next for Housing Policy?
Housing policy stands out as both a nationally prominent priority and an area of potential bipartisanship. As the new administration and 119th Congress take office, there’s a strong existing foundation for action on housing and support for planning-led reforms. -
January 23, 2025
New Congress Brings New Opportunities
With the new year comes a new Congress and new opportunities to strengthen federal support for housing and zoning reform – APA's top policy priority for 2025. -
November 11, 2024
Rogers, Arkansas, Planners Take On Regulatory Reform
APA Public Affairs Program Manager Brenna Donegan spoke to planning advocate John McCurdy about how his city of Rogers, Arkansas is addressing housing challenges, and why other small to mid-size communities in Northwest Arkansas need federal investment and support to make smart zoning reforms happen. -
August 7, 2024
Building on Success: Housing Reform in Grand Rapids
Since the 2002 master plan, Grand Rapids has seen more than $7 billion of construction invested in the city. Efforts like eliminating single family zoning and studies of individual neighborhood needs have now positioned Grand Rapids for bolder housing reforms with lower risk of gentrification or displacement of neighborhoods. -
May 8, 2024
5 Reasons to Join APA for Planners' Day
This is a unique opportunity to sharpen your advocacy and communication skills, meet one-on-one with members of Congress, and explain why your community needs federal support for housing and zoning reform. -
November 14, 2023
Top Five Takeaways: White House Housing Fact Sheet
The Biden-Harris Administration announced new actions last month to support and accelerate commercial-to-residential conversions through new federal guidance on financing and tax incentives, technical assistance, and the reuse of federal properties. -
November 13, 2023
Tribal Zoning? Well, It’s Complicated
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: How can planners help tribal authorities apply zoning to "checkboard" reservations? -
May 10, 2023
Should States Shrink Zoning?
Spotlight on Zoning Practice: Is state preemption of local zoning the answer to the housing crisis? -
April 21, 2023
It Takes a Planner: Communicating Your Value to Policymakers
APA is launching “It Takes a Planner”, an effort aimed at building the influence of planners among state and local elected and appointed officials. -
March 8, 2022
Understanding Redlining and Its Impacts
Documentary explores the long-lasting impacts of redlining on communities. -
April 13, 2021
Connecticut Planners Take Zoning Reform Fight to the State
Zoning reform efforts are underway in Connecticut, a state with a long history of exclusionary zoning. Several bills that aim to tackle zoning reform are in play at the legislature this session — and planners are weighing in. -
April 2, 2021
Administration’s Bold Infrastructure Plan Holds Promise For Planners, But Questions Remain
Planners and communities are eager to see transformational infrastructure policy move forward in Washington. While President Biden's infrastructure plan offers much promise, there are also important questions that remain unanswered about support for planning-led solutions in any infrastructure package. -
July 8, 2020
Congress Looks to Planning as a Climate Crisis Solution
A new congressional climate action plan positions planning as one solution to tackling climate change. APA supported the creation of the plan by contributing ideas for how federal climate policy can set the context for effective local and regional plans. -
February 3, 2020
3 Top Issues for Planners in 2020 State Legislatures
As 2020 state legislative sessions start up, here are three top issues for planners. -
January 9, 2020
Proposed NEPA Changes Costly, Threaten Community Safety
In response to the proposed overhaul of NEPA regulations, the American Planning Association (APA) and Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) urge the Trump administration to not abandon review of development and infrastructure projects. -
August 6, 2019
Address the Nation’s Housing Crisis: Action for the States
State legislation is a part of housing reform. Here are APA's actions for the states. -
August 2, 2019
Federal Surface Transportation Debate Shifts Into High Gear
The nation's current surface transportation law is set to expire on September 30, 2020. Learn where work on the bill stands now, the legislative process ahead, and how planners can influence the outcome. -
July 1, 2019
What Did and Didn't Change With the Supreme Court’s Knick Decision
APA Amicus Committee Chair John Baker explains what the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn a longstanding property takings precedent means for planners. -
October 26, 2018
Planners at the Polls: Housing, Infrastructure on 2018 Ballots
State and local ballot measures are driving voters to the polls this fall. We are watching some key planning-related measures that could have an impact on your community. -
December 18, 2017
Most Planning, Development Tools Survive in Tax Reform Compromise
House and Senate conferees have struck a compromise agreement on tax reform. While the bill preserves most planning and development tools, long-term effects of tax reform pose new uncertainties for local planning efforts and communities. -
December 5, 2017
Congressional Conference Committee Takes on Tax Reform
Congressional leaders are hoping to complete work on tax reform before the end of the year. The quickest way to accomplish that is reconciling the differences between the House and Senate bills through the conference committee process. -
November 21, 2017
Tax Reform Negotiations on the Horizon
Congress heads home for Thanksgiving having made significant progress on tax reform legislation. The House of Representatives passed its bill, and the Senate's legislation will head to the floor soon. -
November 10, 2017
Senate Tax Bill: Key Differences from the House Version
The Senate Finance Committee released a detailed summary of its own tax reform legislation just hours after the long-awaited tax bill hit the floor in the House. -
November 6, 2017
Analysis: Tax Reform Proposal Impacts Housing, Economic Development
The long-awaited tax reform legislation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1), contains provisions that will have potentially significant impacts on housing and economic development activities. -
July 14, 2017
Why We Need to Pass a Law That Funds Urban Green Spaces
Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán recently introduced the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program Act of 2017, a bill that would codify funding for the development of urban parks, green spaces, and recreational areas in communities across the country. -
October 12, 2016
Perspectives on Planning in London and the U.S. Suburban Midwest
U.S. planner Andy Cross, AICP, shares insights into the differences in English and American planning that he gleaned in London. -
September 8, 2016
Can You Sue the Government for Climate Change Impacts?
Well, a lot depends on circumstances, and environmental law is seldom a simple thing. But the answer, according to Jon Kusler, a veteran in this field, may increasingly be yes.
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