While transit-oriented development (TOD) can offer a community a variety of different advantages, it demands costly investment in infrastructure and community facilities. To address this barrier, this report provides local governments with a comprehensive overview of existing tools and strategies and explores emerging, innovative models for funding and financing TOD infrastructure. In addition, it provides real-life examples of these tools and models in action by zeroing in on 11 communities across the country who have incorporated them into their TOD financing strategies.

The report covers a longitudinal study by Voices for Utah Children, in partnership with Granite School District (GSD) Preschool Services, and with support from the United Way of Salt Lake and Goldman Sachs Bank USA. The study focused on the outcomes associated with 3 cohorts of 4 year olds in 11 schools most impacted by poverty attending the Granite School District's high quality Title I preschool program beginning in SY06-07. The study tracked the special education use of children from the 3 cohorts who tested as potentially eligible for special education services at 4 years old to determine how many of these children required special education services in kindergarten through the 3rd grade. Academic achievement data for all the children in the 3 cohorts was also collected to determine if the GSD preschool program has been successful in closing achievement gap through elementary school. Research shows that at-risk children who attend high quality preschool programs use special education services at significantly reduced rates in kindergarten through the 12th grade as those at-risk children who do not attend a high quality preschool. This reduction in special education use is a cost savings to the state and federal government. The report shows that early results from the Granite School District in Utah are promising. The data shows that significant cost savings - approximately $1 million - in special education have been achieved over the three year period. Had the sustainable financing model been implemented in SY06, an additional 736 children could have been served over the three years with the state cost savings, effectively doubling access to the Title I preschool program (not withstanding capacity issues) for at-risk children.

The fact sheet outlines the partnership created between Goldman Sachs, J.B. Pritzker, the United Way of Salt Lake to expand the Utah High Quality Preschool Program with the use of social impact bonds, which generate pay-for-success payments when certain goals are reached.

An ordinance permitting Accessory Development Units in the city of Salt Lake. Such units, which are currently illegal in areas zoned for single-family houses unless granted a waiver, also allow homeowners to offer an affordable housing option to an aging parent, relative or college student. These units would promote more efficient use of the city's housing stock and slim carbon footprints. The units also could boost sustainable-living practices by permitting an aging parent, relative or student to have an affordable housing option in a desirable area.

Salt Lake City tackled issues of fresh and healthy food availability via Resident Food Equity Advisors. Their goal was to create an equitable community food system that increased access to healthy, organic, and culturally relevant foods for historically underrepresented and underserved communities. Ultimately, the group helped shape the City’s food policy agenda by creating resident-developed strategies to improve access to healthy food, pushing for a city resolution to increase access to healthy food for all residents, and launching a community food assessment update.