Eastgate Regional Council of Governments | Eastgate Regional Broadband Feasibility Study 

In June of 2021, the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments (Eastgate) accepted the completed Regional Broadband Feasibility Study that would serve as the roadmap towards addressing the issues that plague high-speed connectivity in the region while also promoting the modernization of broadband infrastructure to ensure competitiveness in a fast-changing and ever-evolving global landscape. 

East Texas Council of Governments | Rural, Set, Go! Workforce Strategy Public Forum Series 

Rural, Set, Go! is an intentional strategy to engage community leaders, business leaders, and community members in candid conversations about the factors that influence their local workforce and economic development needs, particularly in-demand skills as identified by the community employers.   

Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission | In Recognition of the Miami Valley Disaster Recovery Leadership 

Following a series of disastrous storms in 2019 the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) MVRPC was asked and agreed to become the designated leader of the Long-Term Community Disaster Recovery Network, helping the impacted counties, cities, townships and villages across the region create a plan for recovery and resiliency.  

Region 1 Planning Council | R1 Land Bank 

The R1 Land Bank exists to effectively aggregate parcels of land for future sale or development, while fostering municipal collaboration and supporting community goals. Hundreds of legally abandoned sit at length, often years, vacant and deteriorating. Through the land bank, vacant properties may be acquired and returned to market at a higher value putting an end to the vicious cycle of declining equalized assessed valuations and abandoned properties in communities.      

Lehigh Valley Planning Commission with Lehigh County, Pennsylvania | Lehigh Valley Jobs & Housing Support Initiative 

Immediately following closures from the COVID-19 Pandemic Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) alongside Lehigh County, went to work to quantify the vulnerabilities as a first step in beginning to address what quickly became a jobs and housing crisis. Within weeks on the shutdowns, the mayors of the region’s three cities, Bethlehem, Allentown and Easton joined the roundtable with Lehigh County and LVPC to start needed problem-solving.  

Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization | Miami-Dade TPO SMART STEP Program 

The Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) Urban Mobility Task Force & Non-Urban Core Task Force were created to focus on addressing bicycle and pedestrian mobility challenges in Miami-Dade County. As a result, the SMART STEP (Street Transportation Enhancements Program) was created to facilitate interagency coordination, innovation, and accelerated implementation of pedestrian and bicycle improvement projects that increase connectivity and enhance safety.    

Puget Sound Regional Council | PSRC’s Equity Program 

PSRC’s goal is to advance racial equity to ensure that the region’s vision for a prosperous and healthy future is possible for all people in the region. Recognizing that this is not available to everyone, PSRC set out to change this with its new Equity Program. PSRC’s Equity Program offers several innovations as they are taking an entirely new approach to equity in their work. 

Southeast Michigan Council of Governments | Southeast Michigan Electric Vehicle (EV) Resource Kit and Planning Hub    

 The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) developed the Southeast Michigan EV Resource Kit and Planning Hub as a one-stop destination which provides local communities and stakeholders with quick access to key data and background information on EVs and EV infrastructure; the current status of infrastructure and deployment; community zoning and planning ordinances; funding opportunities; and local case studies and best practices. The primary goal of this resource is to assist stakeholders and communities across the region and state to most effectively prepare for and support the adoption of EVs as well as in the deployment of EV charging infrastructure.   

Alamo Area Council of Governments | Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape 

The Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape (CBSL) was designated as the first Sentinel Landscape in Texas, and one of only 10 in the nation. Sentinel Landscapes are areas in which natural and working lands are well suited to protect defense facilities from land use that is incompatible with the military’s mission.  The purpose of the program is to focus and leverage federal resources on a landscape-scale natural resource conservation effort through a regional consortium of state and local governments, nonprofit conservation organizations, military installations, and regional Federal technical assistance offices. 

Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) | SCAG Housing Policy Leadership Academy 

The SCAG Housing Policy Leadership Academy (HPLA) offers a 10-session online training for emerging and established community leaders who want to better understand how to advance policy solutions to increase the supply and availability of affordable housing. The program is open to elected officials, advocates, and community stakeholders in moving forward a pro-housing development agenda and empower leaders to make informed decisions. SCAG had an overwhelming response to the program. 

Houston-Galveston Area Council | H-GAC Small Business Financial Assistance – Pandemic & Beyond   

In 2020, as businesses struggled to remain afloat due to mandated closures, H-GAC worked to find solutions. Endeavoring to create new, nimble and responsive loan programs to meet small business needs, H-GAC leveraged its resources, connections, special ability to tap into various funding sources, and its existing framework. The pandemic spurred immediate action from the third largest county in the nation, Harris County, which would help pave the way for the creation of various loan programs in the region.