The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a report in January that offers new tools for small cities and towns to adopt a smart growth economic development strategies.

This smart growth economic development tool is a step-by-step guide to building a place-based economic development strategy.

The tool was developed with the assistance of CH2M Hill and Strategic Economics as part of a Smart Growth Implementation Assistance project in Kelso, Washington.  The tool is intended for small and mid-sized cities, particularly those that have limited population growth, areas of disinvestment, and/or a struggling economy.

A copy of the smart growth development tool is available online.

EPA offers a variety of tools and resources to help communities learn about and implement smart growth approaches to development.  Visit the Smart Growth Tools webpage to learn more.

2/15/2016