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PLANNING AND ADVOCACY
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Infrastructure Week spotlights key programs
During Infrastructure Week, APA and more than 400 other national organizations remind everyone that infrastructure issues challenge urban, suburban, and rural communities nationwide. Although the White House infrastructure plan may have stalled on Capitol Hill, Congress has an opportunity this week to advance infrastructure planning priorities.
THUD vote
Today, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation-HUD is slated to vote on its FY 2019 funding blueprint for critical community development, housing, and transportation programs. Will Congress accept President Trump's proposed budget cuts, which APA strongly opposed earlier this year, or will it maintain — or even increase — funding, based on progress made in the FY 2018 omnibus spending bill? APA Policy Director Jason Jordan previews this week's House markup and explains how planners could shape the outcome. Please urge your legislators to support sufficient funding for these important programs.
From TIGER to BUILD
Changes to the popular TIGER Discretionary Grants program — recently renamed Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants — are making headlines. Learn more about TIGER's transformation and what you can do during Infrastructure Week to ensure adequate funding for BUILD grants in FY 2019.
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Farm bill
Housing and transportation are not the only infrastructure issues getting attention this week. Farm bill reauthorization is required every five years, and the Agriculture Act of 2014 will expire in September. The House Agriculture Committee passed the 2018 farm bill last month, and House Republican leaders could bring it to the floor as early as Friday. Reauthorizing the farm bill is among APA's top policy priorities in 2018.
Keep your eyes on planning.org and @APAadvocates on Twitter for news of infrastructure and other legislative activity this week.
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Learn how San Diego streamlined permitting and licensing
The City of San Diego launched a new online portal that calculates where a project is allowed, which permits will be required, and how much the permits will cost. This cuts down on trips to City Hall and has saved over 3,000 hours of staff time in 2018. Learn more at www.opencounter.com/case_study.
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APA NEWS
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The search is on for JAPA's new editor
At the end of this year, Dr. Sandra Rosenbloom will complete her term as editor of the Journal of the American Planning Association. Dr. Rosenbloom has guided APA's official journal since 2013 with dedication and expertise.
APA is seeking JAPA's next editor — an individual who will ensure that the highest quality and most relevant research is published for the benefit of scholars and planners in all practice settings. The five-year position (2019–23) will begin January 1, after an orientation and transition period in late 2018. Apply for this position by June 22.
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Breaking barriers in the profession
During her 50-year career, Margarita Piel McCoy brought a strong female voice into a male-dominated profession. McCoy's accomplishments include being the first woman appointed a full professor of urban planning at a major U.S. university — where she served as department chair — and increasing opportunities in the planning profession for minorities and women. The 2018 awards jury selected McCoy to receive this year's National Planning Excellence Planning Pioneers Award.
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Immerse yourself in cutting-edge 3D GIS technology
The emerging field of Geodesign is a "must-know" for planning professionals. Incorporating GIS into the development of sustainable systems helps create new solutions to population change, climate change, and other factors — for the future of our planet. Learn more about Jefferson's (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University) graduate program in Geodesign and apply now for Fall 2018.
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NATIONAL PLANNING CONFERENCE
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Help build NPC19
Member proposals are instrumental to shaping the educational content of next year's National Planning Conference in San Francisco. APA welcomes innovative subject matter and invites you to propose a session on an important, current, or emerging topic. APA will accept NPC19 session proposals from June 1 through 25.
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NPC18 youth workshop
More than 20 planners from this year's conference teamed up in Gretna, Louisiana, with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Louisiana and YEP! Youth Engagement Planning to produce an engaging, activity-based workshop attended by more than 100 K–12 students.
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Earn a Penn State degree in Community and Economic Development
Learn how to navigate the complexities of communities and community organizations — and inspire positive changes on local, regional, and national levels — with a Penn State degree. Complete your course work online, studying where and when you want. Learn more at worldcampus.psu.edu/cedev.
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EVENTS
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May 29 – "Fostering Social Equity and Inclusive Growth" webinar, conclusion of a three-part educational opportunity (free; register) CM | 1
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RESOURCES
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Tools for the wildland-urban interface
With support from the U.S. Forest Service, APA developed a Research KnowledgeBase collection on the Wildland-Urban Interface to help WUI communities conserve natural resources and manage wildfires. Resources in the collection include background and policy guidance on WUI planning and development and examples of plans, toolkits, statutes, regulations, case studies, webpages, and maps. All collections in the Research KnowledgeBase are freely available to APA members at work on behalf of local communities.
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Tennessee toolkit
Tennessee's Planners4Health project created materials that offer guidelines for building healthier communities and outline expected positive returns. Free resources include a toolkit that outlines the civic financial benefits of a health-promoting built environment.
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Lost farmland
American Farmland Trust just released the most comprehensive assessment ever undertaken of the loss of U.S. farmland and ranchland. Farms Under Threat: The State of America's Farmland sounds a stark warning. Almost 31 million acres have been lost to development — including 11 million acres of the nation's best farmland.
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On being managed
Could your relationship with your supervisor be better? Richard Willson, FAICP, author of A Guide for the Idealist, offers advice on how to make it happen. Hint: Start by working on your own perspective.
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OPPORTUNITIES
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STAFF NEWS
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Communicators' retreat
APA communications staff met in Chicago last week for a full-day retreat focused on priorities, strategies, and collaboration. They topped off the day by visiting the nearby American Writers Museum for inspiration.
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Central Florida Regional Planning Council
Bartow, FL
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Oregon Department of Transportation
Salem, OR
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City of Loveland
Loveland, CO
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City of Campbell Community Development Department
Campbell, CA
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College Township
State College, PA
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City of Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, NY
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