True North 400’s Post

Do you have success stories of housing conversion? Think about how people move through space? Working on small area station plans or infill on very small parcels? Have insights on how has placemaking/placekeeping changed? At the Mpact Transit + Community Conference, one of the six big questions we’re asking is: How are you building complete communities? We want to hear all of the answers and solutions you have! Submit your session proposal by March 29: mpactmobility.org/speakers

Did you know that we produce a weekly webinar called Money Mondays? This brief but information-packed show aims to connect GPCOG member communities to funding opportunities and economic & community development tools. And it's publicly available on our YouTube channel! This week, the topic was Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grants. #governmentgrants #municipalfunding #municipalresources #moneymondays

Thought-provoking discussions and wisdom are in abundance here at “Land for Lasting Affordable Housing: A Day of Learning from Emerging National Best Practices” convened by Grounded Solutions Network. Community ownership of land is power.

Building equity for homeowners is something that we take pride in at Habitat GSF. According to one Habitat GSF homeowner, “We are able to not stress about how much are we going to pay every month, we are building equity and savings, we have been able to go to college, we feel safe at HOME!” Learn more about our community impact here: https://lnkd.in/g8rrxkhQ

Growth is happening all over St. Catharines! 📈 Did you know the value of construction in St. Catharines was estimated at more than $300 million in 2022, a 21 per cent increase over 2021? St. Catharines has planning policies and incentive programs in place designed to encourage development and redevelopment that meet the needs of the community. Learn more about the City's Community Improvement Plan and proposed amendments here: https://bit.ly/3SjVqhe

As housing costs rise, land trusts are emerging as a powerful tool to protect community diversity. By separating land ownership from building ownership, land trusts keep housing affordable and empower local governance. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gPr3pr5  

In every community, from small towns to bustling cities, the framework that supports daily life is often taken for granted. Yet, behind the smooth operation of services, the fair treatment of residents, and the efficient allocation of resources lies the critical infrastructure of municipal policies and procedures. These often-overlooked elements are the unsung heroes of local governance, ensuring that our communities are safe, equitable, and thriving. Why are municipal policies and procedures so important? To read more, visit the Capital Strategic Solutions website at https://ow.ly/To1v50TG05L

Rural areas across the UK are often misunderstood by funders and policy makers as affluent places with no real deprivation or need, and that they are places that deserve little or significantly less investment. This stance overlooks the many hidden needs and inequities that exist in the countryside, leaving large swathes of the population disadvantaged simply because of where they live. More needs to be done to recognise and understand the intersectionality of the rural population and the marginalisation they face due to higher costs of living, lower wage employment opportunities and a lack of access to key services and connectivity. With many communities becoming more remote and facing a cycle of dormancy, exacerbated by business closures, service withdrawal and insufficient house building we believe that something needs to change. Plunkett UK advocates for the community ownership model as a way of addressing many of the challenges that currently exist in the countryside. To support this ambition however, we believe that there needs to be a comprehensive, cross-departmental rural strategy at the heart of Government. This is something we are pushing for along with other members of the Rural Coalition - [https://lnkd.in/e7kVbUMS]

In the wake of COVID-19, the City of Boulder received $20.15 million in one-time funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to help our community recover from the pandemic. In addition to federal guidelines for how ARPA dollars can be spent, the city developed its own guiding principles for the funding, which incorporate the city’s equity, sustainability and resilience goals, using the city’s Sustainability + Resilience Framework and Racial Equity Framework. Learn more about how ARPA funding safeguarded Boulder from the impacts of the pandemic: https://ow.ly/tsom50TCnCo

Municipal policies and procedures are the quiet champions of local governance. They create a framework that supports the well-being and fairness of every community, from the smallest towns to the largest cities. By providing consistency, transparency, and adaptability, these foundational elements empower us to build resilient communities where everyone can thrive. It is through these often-overlooked structures that we ensure our communities are not only safe and efficient but also responsive to the evolving needs of their residents. At Capital Strategic Solutions, we understand that strong municipal policies and procedures aren’t just about maintaining order; they’re about empowering local governance to create a better future for all.