City of Franklin officials will meet with representatives from Smart Growth America for a workshop on March 3 and 4, 2015 as part of a free, grant-funded technical assistance program. This workshop will provide city officials with a range of strategies to position Franklin for long-term economic growth, especially given the development pressures being created by Franklin’s rapid population growth.
“We are honored to be selected for this program,” said Mayor Ken Moore. “Smart growth is very important to the City of Franklin. We look forward to these workshops to get input from citizens and city leaders on the best way to plan for the future growth of our city.”
Franklin area residents are invited to join the workshop’s first day for an introductory presentation that will share an overview of smart growth strategies. The event will be held March 3, 2015 at 7:00 PM in the City Hall Training Room, located at 109 Third Avenue South.
“Smart Growth America is committed to providing the tools and training to help community leaders keep their cities and towns livable, sustainable and vital places,” said Roger Millar, Director of Smart Growth America’s Leadership Institute. “Franklin is facing some important opportunities and challenges in determining how to position itself for long-term growth. We look forward to engaging community members in a discussion of how smart growth tools can be used to plan for future growth in the most strategic way.”
Franklin is one of 14 communities nationwide selected to participate in Smart Growth America’s 2015 free technical assistance program. Stretching from Florida to Washington State, these 14 communities include major cities, suburban centers, and rural towns.
This competitive program, made possible through a five-year Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Sustainable Communities, seeks to develop local planning solutions that help communities grow in ways that benefit families and businesses, while protecting the environment and preserving a sense of place. One other nonprofit organization—the Project for Public Spaces—also currently has an active grant under this program to help communities get the kinds of development they want.
As a national leader in the field, Smart Growth America has accumulated extensive experience working with communities to help them use land strategically, make the most of existing resources and invest strategically to catalyze private development.
Smart Growth America is the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring smart growth practices to more communities nationwide. From providing more sidewalks to ensuring more homes are built near public transportation or that productive farms remain a part of our communities, smart growth helps make sure people across the nation can live in great neighborhoods. For additional information visit www.smartgrowthamerica.org.
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CONTACT:
Alex Dodds, 202-207-3355 x112, adodds@smartgrowthamerica.org
Milissa Reierson 615-550-6629, milissa.reierson@franklintn.gov
