Economic Development Digestibles

Smart Growth
Smart Growth, Better Neighborhoods: Communities Leading the Way details the problems created by unchecked growth and examines how grassroots organizations are tackling the crisis. It features 15 case studies of community, neighborhood and faith-based organizations working to promote a strong community voice in growth decisions and ensure an equitable distribution of regional resources among all communities, especially low-income and minority neighborhoods.

Contact: National Neighborhood Coalition (NNC), (202) 842-3100 Price: $25 nonmembers/ $12 NNC members

New Ventures in Philanthropy
The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers announced the beginning of the 2000 grantmaking cycle for its national promotion of philan-thropy initiative, New Ventures in Philanthropy. Approximately $1 million in grant funds are available to coalitions of organizations that are promoting the full range of options for establishing grant-making funds. Proposals must be received by Friday, October 20, 2000.

Contact: Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, (202) 467-0293, www.rag.org

Smart Choices
The Sierra Club recently released a report, Smart Choices or Sprawling Growth: A 50 State Survey of Development. The report shows that many communities and developers across the nation are choosing to grow smarter. The report also finds that most communities need to reconsider many development and zoning codes that promote sprawl and prevent developers from building smarter.

Contact: Sierra Club, (415) 977-5500, www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/ 50statesurvey
Price: Free on their website

Growing Pains
The National Governors’ Association (NGA) recently released Growing Pains: Quality of Life in the New Economy. This report illustrates how governors are choosing from a wealth of ideas and experiments underway in the United States as national attention increasingly focuses on growth-related issues. The report presents examples of successful efforts by governors in more than 25 states and is a culmination of a year-long study by NGA’s Center for Best Practices.

Contact: NGA, (202) 624-5300, www.nga.org
Price: $15 or free on their website

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