Blog
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May 12, 2025
Tackling Uncertainty: Congressionally Directed Spending Requests
With the new unpredictability of some federal grants, many communities are looking for other ways to drive federal investment into local planning and projects. An alternative, or perhaps a supplement, to either discretionary grants or formula-based funding may be congressionally directed spending, known as “earmarks.” -
May 7, 2025
Trump Budget Proposes Cuts to Key Housing, Community Development Programs
On May 2, the Trump administration released their Fiscal Year 2026 "skinny" budget proposal outlining funding recommendations for federal programs. Learn more on what planners should expect and APA's response. -
April 28, 2025
What’s Next for Transportation Policy?
The 2024 election results mark unified Republican control of the White House and Congress. Here are some ways planners can expect the administration to chart a different regulatory course for transportation programs and policy. -
April 22, 2025
The Push for Parking Reform
Recent legislative efforts in Washington, Connecticut, Colorado, Minnesota, and Montana highlight a growing movement to reduce or eliminate parking requirements. While each state’s approach varies, the common theme is clear: outdated parking mandates are increasingly an obstacle to housing affordability and sustainable development. -
April 17, 2025
New Standards Issued for Regional Economic Development Plans
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has issued new guidance for required Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy plans (CEDS). Learn how these new standards will affect planners. -
April 17, 2025
FEMA Waives Equity, Climate Requirements for Local Mitigation Plans
FEMA has issued new guidance related to requirements for incorporating underserved communities, socially vulnerable populations, and climate change into local hazard mitigation plans. Those sections are now removed from the guide outlining plan requirements. Read more on how this is affecting planning practices. -
April 7, 2025
FEMA Suspends Key Pre-Disaster Mitigation Funding
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton issued a memorandum suspending funding for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. The action stops $750 million in planned grants for FY25. Learn how this will impact planners. -
April 2, 2025
USDOT Announces Updated Safe Streets for All Grant Notice
The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program is now accepting applications. -
March 27, 2025
4 Ways to Use State Funding for Local Housing Supply
As federal funding programs are changed, reduced, or curtailed, localities are increasingly looking to states to supplement finance efforts to produce, preserve, and improve housing supply. Here are four ways to use state funding for local housing action, plus a look at two states that are creating even more opportunities for financing -
March 27, 2025
Finance Tools for Housing Abundance
Despite a shifting political environment, planners can still support their communities in securing funding for local reforms that increase housing abundance. Here are four tips to explore the wide variety of financial tools available, and a look at how some communities are already using these tips to their advantage. -
March 27, 2025
DOT Rescinds Guidance to States – Here’s What It Means for Planners
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has begun to undo a variety of directives from the Biden administration that guided state and federal infrastructure investments. There are potentially troubling signs that progress through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in areas like biking, pedestrian safety, and environmental impacts may be jeopardized. -
March 24, 2025
U.S. EPA Announces Sweeping Deregulatory Agenda
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced an agenda to formally reconsider more than 30 existing rules and regulations. Administrator Zeldin called the effort “the biggest deregulatory action in American history.” -
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 19, 2025
Building for Tomorrow: States Take Action on Housing Reform
While the nation navigates the latest executive orders and highly anticipated bipartisan action on the federal level, state leaders are taking action now to enable the reforms communities need to boost supply. Increasingly, governors are bringing local leaders together with housing policy experts – including planners – to determine ways the state can pave the way for local housing action. -
February 21, 2025
Understanding What Environmental Review Executive Orders Mean for Planning
President Trump signed the “Unleashing American Energy” Executive Order (EO). The EO rescinds a 1977 Carter-era order that charged the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) with issuing binding standards and regulations implementing NEPA. -
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. -
February 5, 2025
HUD Announces Second Round of PRO Housing Grant Recipients
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released a second round of Pathways to Reducing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) grants. Over $100 million in funding will be distributed to 18 communities nationwide in support of their work to reform outdated and restrictive zoning regulations – a proven approach to increasing housing abundance. -
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. -
December 20, 2024
4 Legislative Wins for Planners and Housing Reform in the 118th Congress
The past two years have brought about significant changes across the country — but housing supply and zoning reform remain top-of-mind for planners, elected officials, and their communities. Here are four legislative wins planners — and APA — made possible in the 118th Congress. -
November 26, 2024
YIMBY Act Finds New Support in Congress
From greenlighting two rounds of pro-housing planning funding to the launch of the Yes in My Backyard Caucus, members of the 118th Congress have demonstrated their willingness to better partner with communities on housing reform. -
October 4, 2024
Planning Advocates Open Doors to New Connections
Policymakers at local, state, and national levels depend on planners to bring data, insights, and guidance that can shape the policies that change lives. This week, planning advocates brought those insights to Capitol Hill during APA’s annual Congressional Fly-In. -
September 6, 2024
Streamlining Housing Development Review Through Zoning Reform
As communities look for solutions to increase their housing supply in a way that fits their needs, overly complicated zoning review processes often get in the way of development, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse projects. One strategy offered to increase housing supply is to speed or streamline processes for housing development review and approval. -
August 20, 2024
New Federal Funding for Housing Planning Available
The Biden-Harris administration announced this week that year two of the Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) Program is open. This new round of grants focuses on communities that already have local reform projects in the works. -
August 16, 2024
Six Takeaways: The Latest in Federal Housing Action
Top takeaways from a new series of federal actions aimed at closing the housing supply gap. -
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. -
June 28, 2024
PRO Housing Grants Announced: New Federal Support for Local Zoning Reform
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announces the long-awaited Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO-Housing) grants. -
June 25, 2024
Planners ‘Plant a Seed’ for Housing Reform
Nearly 100 planners from across the country gathered online in June 2024 for APA’s Planners’ Day on Capitol Hill. Each advocate brought stories of the housing challenges their own communities’ are facing – and how planners are on the ground working to boost housing supply and expand affordability. -
June 5, 2024
Making HUD a Better Partner for Local Zoning Reform
The newly introduced Reducing Regulatory Barriers to Housing Act would make HUD a better policy partner to communities embracing housing reform by providing ideas and information that leverage federal expertise, increase transparency through new tools like a national zoning atlas, and spur local innovation. -
May 20, 2024
Planners Call for Federal Support for Housing Reform
Planners across the country are joining APA for Planners' Day to tell Congress why communities need federal action on zoning reform. -
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. -
April 5, 2024
FY24 Spending Package: What You Need to Know About Housing
APA Public Affairs staff break down the support for housing and zoning reform in the FY24 spending bill and what it means for planners. -
February 28, 2024
5 Federal Zoning Reform Bills Every Planner Should Know
Five federal zoning reform bills, endorsed by APA, that every planner should know. -
January 2, 2024
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rule Finalized by Biden Administration
The Federal Highway Administration finalized an APA-supported planning rule for greenhouse gas emissions, including the release of a reduction tool to move climate change performance measurement forward. -
December 12, 2023
It Takes A Planner to Reconnect Cleveland’s Lakefront
Cleveland planners invited nearly 100 elected officials to come together and discuss the role of planning in shaping the city's future. -
November 15, 2023
Minneapolis Appeals Ruling That Delays Implementation of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan
Minneapolis is appealing a recent court ruling that blocked the 2040 comprehensive plan from transforming housing in the city. -
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 8, 2023
Support for Zoning Reform Across Capitol Hill
The PRO-Housing Program cleared important legislative hurdles this month after gaining a second year of funding in the Senate transportation and housing funding bill and passing as an amendment in the House's version of the same funding bill. -
October 18, 2023
Three Governors Issue Executive Orders on Housing to Increase Supply
Governors of Colorado, New York, and Hawaii have exercised their executive powers to implement various levels of zoning reform within their states. -
October 13, 2023
No State Immune to Housing Supply Shortage
A new report, sponsored by APA, finds that the nation's housing supply shortage is getting worse, faster — especially for small towns and suburban communities that face high housing demand in the aftermath of the pandemic. -
August 30, 2023
Federal Zoning Reform Funding Available Now
A new federal competitive grant program – totaling $85 million – is now available to help local governments develop and implement policies that create and preserve housing options by breaking down barriers to zoning reform. -
July 17, 2023
Planning Priorities Face Cuts in Congress
Federal investments in zoning reform, climate action, and infrastructure are on the line this week as Congress moves to reduce federal spending for the next fiscal year. APA unpacks the disappointing cuts and the legislative pathway forward. -
May 31, 2023
Five Key ADU State Bills
A list of accessory dwelling unit bills that were introduced in 2023 state legislative sessions. -
May 30, 2023
How to Overcome ADU Barriers
APA and AARP partner to create a guide to expand local supply and legal occupancy of ADUs -
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 24, 2023
State of the State Addresses Aim to Tackle the Housing Crisis
Governors address housing policies in state of state addresses in 2023. -
January 20, 2023
What to Expect in State Legislatures on Zoning Reform in 2023
State legislatures in 2022 focused on increasing affordable housing within their respective regions. The trend of state legislatures preempting zoning reform is expected to continue in 2023 across the country. -
January 10, 2023
Congress Funds New ‘YIMBY’ Grants for Zoning Reform
Congress passes a new $85 million grant program aimed at zoning reform. The funding represents a new and significant incentive and support for local zoning reform and planning for housing affordability. -
September 20, 2022
Five+ Federal Infrastructure Programs Every Planner Should Know
The passage of the landmark Bipartisan Infrastucture Law saw the largest direct investment in community planning in a century. Here are 5+ new or expanded programs created by BIL that every planner should know about right now. -
July 18, 2022
Housing Scarcity Is Worse Than Ever
A recent report demonstrates that the underproduction of housing units affects 47 states and Washington D.C., and its impacts are being felt in all kinds of places, from dense urban areas to small, rural towns. -
May 17, 2022
Addressing the Nation's Housing Crisis
Get the latest information on housing reforms at state and federal levels, including the Biden administration's launch of the Housing Supply Action Plan.
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