Blogs

With the Summit over and the election decided, Bruce Katz and Brookings Metro are taking on the transition and the next phase of governing.  In the face of the jobs deficit, opportunity gap and looming fiscal cliff, they are launching a post-election policy framing and brief series, Remaking Federalism | Renewing the Economy.  

As a municipal grant writer, a forestry outreach coordinator and a freelance journalist, I had a problem choosing which breakout session to attend since almost all 20 of the sessions would have been interesting to me. What inspired me most about Summit 2012 was the sense of community.

When we moved to Maine six years ago, we did so for the quality of life. We wanted to raise our children in a healthier atmosphere, somewhere with clean air, water, and lots of snow. We knew after visiting several places in Maine that there was something special about the state but especially about the people. We want to be here, whether we were born here or not. The common spirit of the people is what brings and keeps talented people in Maine and what makes this such a vibrant community. 

On Tuesday, November 6th, you will have the opportunity to vote on four bond issues.  Each of these bonds was approved by a two-thirds vote in the Maine House and Senate.  They now require majority support of Maine voters.  

We believe each of these investments is essential to strengthening Maine’s economy while supporting our quality places. 

To see the full ballot:
http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming.html

Less than two weeks `til Summit 2012 - have you registered?  If not, here's the 3rd reason you should join us in Augusta on October 23!

PORTLAND: GrowSmart Maine released Charting Maine’s Future – Making Headway, an update to the 2006 Brookings Report, Charting Maine's Future, at a press conference today at the Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine.  Judy East, Executive Director of Washington County Council of Governments and member of the Advisory Team for the report, joined the conference via the University’s polycom system from Calais, “GrowSmart Maine continues to support and reinforce good work across t

Smart Growth America is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for our 2012-2013 round of free technical assistance workshops. Smart Growth America’s free technical assistance program helps to facilitate local solutions to local issues and concerns, so that participating communities are able to grow in ways that benefit families and businesses while protecting the environment and preserving a sense of place.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today invited communities to apply for technical assistance to foster sustainable growth in their area. Communities that adopt sustainable growth strategies have been shown to expand economic opportunity and protect people’s health and the environment. EPA is offering assistance through the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program, which offers tools that can be applied in rural, suburban, and urban areas, including: