ProGov21 Policy Library

More Jobs, Less Pollution: Growing the Recycling Economy in the U.S.

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2011

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Tellus Institute

Policy Areas Community Development, Public Spaces, Environment & Natural Resources, Economic Justice

This report evaluates the positive impacts of implementing a bold national recycling and composting strategy across federal, state, and local governments. Its recommendations of energy, resource, and waste management would allow for significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,...

How Green Banks Help Cities Transition to Clean Energy

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2019

Level City or Town, County

State(s) All States

Source Meeting Of The Minds

Policy Areas Energy

In the face of climate change crisis, it is urgent for policymakers at state, local, and city level to make transition to clean and renewable energy. However, the construction of renewable projects is usually capital-intensive and requires bank’s upfront investment. Green banks help...

Park Impact Fees 101

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2015

Level City or Town, County

State(s) Washington

Source Clark County

Policy Areas Community Development, Economic Justice, Finance & Procurement, Public Spaces

Park Impact Fees (PIFs) are fees levied on the construction of new residential housing to provide an ongoing source of revenue for park and recreational space development. This guide outlines best practices for implementing PIFs and highlights how Clark County and Vancouver have developed...

Navigating Legal Pathways to Rate-Funded Customer Assistance Programs

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2017

Level City or Town, State

State(s) All States

Source University of North Carolina Environmental Finance Center

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Finance & Procurement

Low-income families are significantly burdened by rising water utility rates. This guide explains how water and wastewater utilities can establish payment assistance programs even when facing state-level regulatory restrictions. It also features utility-level case studies that exemplify...

The Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Approach

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2023

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source Environmental Protection Agency

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Finance & Procurement, Public Spaces

The Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Initiative provides support to communities in urbanized watersheds looking to reduce stormwater runoff using green infrastructure. This brief outlines how communities can incorporate green technology into roadway and utility upgrades....

Greening Without Gentrification: Learning from Parks-Related Anti-Displacement Strategies Nationwide

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2019

Level City or Town

State(s) All States

Source UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

Policy Areas Community Development, Economic Justice, Housing, Public Spaces

When parks are built in historically marginalized areas they can contribute to 'green gentrification' as improved access to natural spaces increases property values and brings an influx of wealthier residents. This guide outlines policy strategies for greening marginalized communities...

Raising the Minimum Wage Leads to Significant Gains for Workers, not to ‘Benefits Cliffs’

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2020

Level City or Town, County, State

State(s) All States

Source National Employment Law Project

Policy Areas Children & Families, Democracy & Governance, Economic Justice, Finance & Procurement

Minimum wage increases have raised questions about whether income improvements will push working families above eligibility thresholds for public assistance programs. This report analyzes minimum data from across the country and finds that most major benefits programs gradually phase...

Mayor's Advisory Council on Early Childhood Development and Early Education

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2011

Level School District, City or Town, County

State(s) Tennessee

Source Nashville Mayor Karl Dean

Policy Areas Education, Economic Justice, Children & Families

This report outlines Nashville-Davidson County's early childhood policies and identifies the shortcomings of current programming. It recommends that the city support early literacy programs, improve accountability in the school system, invest in management technology and training,...

Mutal Aid and Mutual Aid Agreements

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2018

Level City or Town, County

State(s) All States, Wisconsin

Source League of Wisconsin Municipalities

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Finance & Procurement, Public Safety, Transportation & Mobility

Municipal cooperation is an important mechanism for providing consistent access to public services, especially in times of crisis or emergency. This brief outlines how shared service or mutual aid agreements facilitate the sharing of resources or services like fire and EMS, law enforcement,...

Game-Changing Potential: Urban Wealth Funds and the City of Atlanta

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2022

Level City or Town

State(s) All States, Georgia

Source Government Finance Officers Association

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Economic Justice, Finance & Procurement, Housing

Urban wealth funds allow local governments to generate revenue by taking stock of publicly owned assets and engaging in new forms of planning and development to generate long term financial returns. This report examines how Atlanta's use of an UWF to finance affordable housing expansion...

Tax Increment Financing: Pros, Cons, and Examples

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2020

Level State

State(s) All States

Source Environmental Risk Information Services

Policy Areas Environment & Natural Resources, Finance & Procurement

This report outlines the redevelopment benefits of tax increment financing, including restoring historic buildings, creating public-private partnerships, raising the value of the tax base, and supporting infrastructure expansion strategies. It also includes case studies of states...

Austerity Versus Reinvestment: A Roadmap for a Broad-Based Connecticut Economic Recovery

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2021

Level State

State(s) Connecticut

Source In the Public Interest

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Community Development, Finance & Procurement

In the face of a public health emergency, an economic recession, and widening of social inequities, Connecticut has continues to reduce its public investment in services such as education, healthcare, housing, and transportation. Downsizing the public sector and failing to adequately...

Relocation assistance to Tenants Displaced from their Homes

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year -

Level City or Town, County, State

State(s) All States

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Policy Areas Civil Rights, Economic Justice, Housing

This guide details relocation payments and assistance available to tenants that are displaced by rehabilitation, demolition, or acquisition of a project that has received federal funding. It highlights assistance options including advisory services, payment for moving expenses, and...

Mutual Aid Agreements

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2018

Level City or Town, County

State(s) All States, Wisconsin

Source League of Wisconsin Municipalities

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Public Safety

This guide outlines 'mutual aid' or 'shared service' agreements and provides examples of statutes that have dictated cross-jurisdiction collaboration between local governments and agencies. It recommends clearly identifying an agreement's liabilities and benefits, establishing a procedure...

Skills-Based Hiring at the Commonwealth

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2024

Level City or Town, County, State

State(s) Massachusetts

Source Massachusetts Department of Human Resources

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Economic Justice

This hiring strategy guide identifies best practices for attracting talented candidates to public sector positions and outlines key components of an effective recruitment plan. It also highlights successful approaches for analyzing hiring trends, developing attractive job postings,...

Portland Parks Local Option Levy

Type Fact Sheet or Infographic

Year 2020

Level City or Town

State(s) Oregon

Source Portland Parks & Recreation Department

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Economic Justice, Finance & Procurement, Health, Public Spaces

The Parks Local Option Levy was a tax initiative passed in Portland that will direct millions toward supporting parks, nature, and clean water. This guide outlines how the parks levy will promote equitable access to recreational programming, support park maintenance and preservation...

Payments in Lieu of Taxes: Balancing Municipal and Nonprofit Interests

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2010

Level City or Town, County

State(s) All States

Source Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Economic Justice, Finance & Procurement

Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs) encourage property tax-exempt institutions like nonprofits to make voluntary payments to support their municipalities. This report outlines effective strategies for PILOT programs and highlights successful local case studies. Best practices include...

Government's Role in the Economy: Making the Case

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2010

Level County, City or Town, State

State(s) All States

Source Demos

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Democracy & Governance

This report provides communications strategies to promote government's proactive role in the economy. It recommends emphasizing the importance of public structures like social security and public universities and explaining that government intervention in economic policy can create...

The Power of Parks to Promote Health

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2023

Level City or Town, County

State(s) All States

Source The Trust for Public Land

Policy Areas Community Development, Health, Public Spaces

Parks and natural spaces promote mental, physical, and environmental wellbeing, and many parks departments are leveraging parks and recreational resources to improve health outcomes. This report outlines the benefits of preserving access to parks and green spaces and provides policy...

The Excellent City Park System: What Makes it Great and How to Get There

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2013

Level City or Town, County

State(s) All States

Source The Trust for Public Land

Policy Areas Community Development, Economic Justice, Public Spaces

This report outlines best practices for effective park development and recommends that cities take inventory of their land assets, prioritize park safety and equity, and regularly engage with the public. It also highlights case studies that have implemented successful park development...

COG Board Explores Opportunities for Regional Infrastructure Investments

Type Article

Year 2023

Level City or Town, County

State(s) District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia

Source Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

Policy Areas Democracy & Governance, Economic Justice, Finance & Procurement, Transportation & Mobility

This article outlines how the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments is collaborating to optimize federal and regional funding for transportation improvements. It highlights the Union Station redevelopment project and how it will expand commuter rail service while meeting...

County of Sacramento Climate Action Plan

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2024

Level County

State(s) California

Source County of Sacramento

Policy Areas Community Development, Democracy & Governance, Economic Justice, Education, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Finance & Procurement, Public Safety

Cities must develop strategic planning frameworks to mitigate emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change. This climate action plan outlines carbon emission inventories, mitigation approaches, and reduction targets for Sacramento County. It provides an overview of the...

Ohio Foreclosures 2016: Damage in the Wake of the Housing Crisis

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2016

Level City or Town

State(s) Ohio

Source Policy Matters Ohio

Policy Areas Housing, Public Safety

This report analyzes the state of foreclosure filings in Ohio in 2015 and discusses the consequences of foreclosures on families, neighborhoods, and local governments. The report reveals that while foreclosure filings have declined, they remain times higher than pre-subprime lending...

Opportunity-Rich Schools and Sustainable Communities: Seven Steps to Align High-Quality Education with Innovations in City and Metropolitan Planning and Development

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2011

Level School District, City or Town, School Board

State(s) All States

Source UC Berkeley Center For Cities & Schools

Policy Areas Education, Economic Justice, Civil Rights, Children & Families

This report aims to help community development and regional planning practitioners collaborate on cross-sector educational improvement efforts, increase productivity, and foster social equity. Its seven-step process recommends developing an understanding of the educational landscape,...

Building Opportunity: Investing in our Future through a Port Construction Careers Policy

Type Policy Brief or Report

Year 2009

Level City or Town

State(s) California

Source Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy

Policy Areas Economic Justice, Transportation & Mobility

Proposed investment in the Port of Los Angeles would create thousands of new construction jobs and boost the city's overall economy. This report provides analysis of existing economic conditions in the region and explains how a "Construction Careers Policy" would ensure equitable...

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