State Policy from A to Z: Strategies from Advocacy to Implementation
Progressive land use plans, problem property policies and winning advocacy strategies share one “go-to” place: states, where legislative changes typically need to be implemented to make many land use policies possible. This training will explore the current level of state play and share critical strategy lessons that make or break an advocacy campaign. In the first half of this session, you’ll hear about the efforts from experienced practitioners as they reflect on their strategies, successes and failures. In the second half of the training, attendees will work in small groups in a hands-on process to understand and develop the framework of a plan for their state. Whether you’re just starting and are looking to learn about building a policy coalition or are well underway and wondering how to deal with difficult legislators, this training will help you get to the next level of success. We encourage you to take the lessons learned here to your state caucus on June 21.
Speakers: Anthony Armstrong, Buffalo LISC; Peter Kasabach, New Jersey Future; Jennifer Leonard, Center for Community Progress; Elisa Ortiz, Smart Growth America; Marcia Rubensohn, Georgia Municipal Association; Julia Seward, Julia Seward Consulting; Diane Sterner, Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey
Additional Materials:
Creating a Winning Campaign Plan, Smart Growth America
Georgia Land Bank Act
Local Efforts to Combat Blight: Foreclosure and Vacancy Ordinances
Researchers and practitioners will discuss the ways different housing markets are responding to residential foreclosure, vacancy and blight. Particular attention will be given to how communities are using local ordinances and what the impact of those ordinances has been.
Speakers: Lavea Brachman, Greater Ohio; Thomas Fitzpatrick, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland; Adam Gross, BPI Chicago; Alan Mallach, Center for Community Progress and the Brookings Institution; Lisa Nelson, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
The Legacy of NSP for Public and Nonprofit Institutions
The Federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) has been a lifeline for many communities. With the program and funding coming to an end, the question is: what next? What are the lessons learned from NSP that can be used for the future? What worked and what didn’t? How are communities using the systems and resources created or garnered during the program for future efforts? Presenters will discuss how state and local governments, land banks and community development organizations used NSP to improve delivery systems and pioneer social enterprise models. The session will feature the $223 million Michigan NSP2 consortium, and innovative models from Housing Partnership Network members – the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and the 180° Properties workforce development enterprise of Mercy Housing Lakefront in Chicago.
Speakers: Sarah Berke, Neighborhood Stabilization Housing Partnership Network; Jeremey Newberg, Capital Access, Inc.; William Towns, Mercy Portfolio Services
Redevelopment Incentives and Innovative Financing
Now more than ever, it is necessary to identify incentives and innovative financing techniques for the reuse of distressed and abandoned buildings, neighborhoods and infrastructure. This session will focus on examples of redevelopment projects that have employed various grants, tax credits, and financing techniques that have leveraged finite local resources for a broader area benefit. Panelists will discuss their experiences and the benefits of using Brownfield incentives, Environmental Remediation Tax Credits, Historic Tax Credits, Residential and Commercial Tax Credits, Bond Financing, Investor Equity, Tax Increment Finance Districts and other state and federal grant programs to leverage and facilitate development.
Speakers: Scott Bishop, Stoss Landscape Urbanism; Michael Freeman, Center for Community Progress; Richard Karp, Karp and Associates; Gary Sands, Wayne State University
