News
Wyoming Governor Freudenthal Creates Growth Focused Non-Profit
In August 2008 Governor Dave Freudenthal announced the creation of a new statewide organization that will "follow up on ideas and recommendations developed at the 'Building the Wyoming We Want' conference." Governor Freudenthal and the Governors' Institute on Community Design co-hosted the forum, which drew more than 500 people to Casper in January 2008, to begin a discussion among Wyomingites about how they can preserve the characteristics of the state they love while addressing growth and development.
Governor Freudenthal appointed Jeff Fuller to lead the non-profit organization.
"'This is about a conversation about the state's future, it is not about the state imposing some kind of a plan from the state level,' the Governor said. 'It is about empowering the local communities and the local citizens to utilize the tools that are at their disposal and to make them aware of those tools. It is not simply a planning exercise — it is, at the end of the day, an exercise about the implementation and the employment of foresight.'"
The Governors' Institute on Community Design co-sponsored the "Building the Wyoming We Want" conference with Governor Freudenthal.
Virginia Governor Kaine Creates a Sub-Cabinet on Community Investment
In June 2008 Governor Timothy M. Kaine issued Executive Order 69 creating a Sub-Cabinet on Community Investment that is "tasked with promoting smart, sustainable growth by ensuring that state funds are invested in projects that reduce suburban sprawl. Through better land use decisions, Virginia will slow the loss of open space, mitigate transportation problems, and provide for present needs, while preserving resources for the needs of the future."
The Sub-Cabinet on Community Investment will ensure that when the States funds projects through grants, loans, matching funds, and other discretionary funding that the projects:
- Invest in innovation;
- Invest in the use of existing infrastructure;
- Invest in compact development;
- Protect and restore Virginia's natural resources;
- Conserve Virginia's limited natural resources;
- Invest in diverse housing opportunities;
- Invest in alternative transportation choices; and,
- Take a long-term view to planning.
The Sub-Cabinet will be chaired by the Secretary of Natural Resources and consist of the Secretaries of Administration; Commerce and Trade; Finance; and Transportation.
The creation of the Sub-Cabinet was the result of a workshop conducted by the Governors' Institute on Community Design for Governor Kaine.
Arizona's Governor Napolitano Creates Growth Cabinet, Scorecard
In 2007 Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano issued Executive Order 2007-05 creating a Growth Cabinet, with the task of collaborating with "cities, towns and Tribal communities to develop and implement a smart growth and development process that integrates land and water use planning and development with the planning and development of existing and future state infrastructure."
In an effort to provide a simple way for communities, counties, and regions to determine their preparedness for growth, the Growth Cabinet is currently working on developing a scorecard. The scorecard will help the State assess whether or not communities have the right tools in place for smart growth. Discretionary funding will be distributed to communities based on how they rate on the scorecard; those engaging in smart growth planning and implementation will receive priority for funding over applicants that are not committed to sensible growth and development. Those communities that score low on the scorecard because they have limited resources and are unable to advance smart growth will still be eligible for state discretionary funding. The State will assist those communities with building the capacity and transitioning them toward smarter growth and development by providing planning expertise through a circuit-rider approach.
The directors (or their designees) of fifteen state agencies serve on the Growth Cabinet.
The Governors' Institute on Community Design held a workshop for Governor Napolitano during which the creation of a scorecard was recommended. The Institute subsequently provided assistance with the development of the scorecard.