New Jersey State Government

New Jersey Office of State Planning
www.state.nj.us/osp/osphome.htm
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs...Smart Growth Grants
www.state.nj.us/osp/doc/grants/sg2kopen.lnk.htm
New Jersey State Data Center
www.state.nj.us/labor/lra/njsdc.htm
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)
www.njtpa.com
Raritan Basin Watershed Management Area Project
www.raritanbasin.org
Upper Delaware Watershed Management Area Project
www.upperdelaware.org
Central Delaware Watershed Management Project
www.delawaretribs.org
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection GIS Data
www.state.nj.us/dep/gis

New Jersey Local Government

NJ State & Local Government
www.statelocalgov.net/nj.htm
New Jersey Infobank
www.state.nj.us/infobank/infobank.htm
County & Municipal Websites
www.state.nj.us/localgov.htm
Local Government Websites
www.oultwood.com/localgov/usa/newjersey.htm
New Jersey Association of Counties
www.njac.org/
New Jersey League of Municipalities
www.njslom.com/

Federal Government

Smart Growth Online
www.smartgrowth.org/
Developed and funded through a cooperative agreement between the US EPA and several non-profit and government organizations, this tool is designed to advance public understanding of smart growth and how growth can improve community livability. The Smart Growth Network works to encourage development that serves the economy, community and the environment. It is a forum for:
Raising public awareness of how growth can improve community quality of life; Promoting smart growth best practices;
Developing and sharing information, innovative policies, tools and ideas;
Cultivating strategies to address barriers to and advance opportunities for smart growth.

U.S. Department of Energy
www.energy.gov/

Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development (U.S. Dept. of Energy)
www.sustainable.doe.gov/
A division of the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network, this website offers information and services on how your community can adopt sustainable development as a strategy for well-being. On this home page, you'll be able to read about other communities that have discovered the benefits of sustainable development; locate technical and financial resources that can help your community plan and carry out sustainable development projects;İand access model codes and ordinances other communities have used to implement sustainable development.İ

U.S. Department of Agriculture
www.usda.gov/
USDA's mission is to: ensure a safe, affordable, nutritious, and accessible food supply care for agricultural, forest, and range lands support sound development of rural communities provide economic opportunities for farm and rural residents expand global markets for agricultural and forest products and services work to reduce hunger in America and throughout the world.

Economic Research Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
www.ers.usda.gov
The Economic Research Service (ERS) is the main source of economic information and research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ERS's mission is to inform and enhance public and private decisionmaking on economic and policy issues related to agriculture, food, natural resources, and rural development. To accomplish this mission, highly trained economists and social scientists develop and distribute a broad range of economic and other social science information and analysis.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
www.nrcs.usda.gov/
NRCS provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve America's natural resources and environment. NRCS provides leadership for conservation activities on the Nation's 1.6 billion acres of private and other non-Federal land. This agency provides technical assistance and information to individuals; communities; tribal governments; Federal, State and local agencies; and others. The NRCS staff partners with staff of the local conservation district and state agencies and with volunteers. NRCS also offers financial assistance, surveys the Nation's soils, inventories natural resources conditions and use, provides water supply forecasts, and develops technical guidance for conservation planning. The benefits of these activities include not only sustaining and improving agricultural productivity, but also cleaner, safer, and more dependable water supplies; reduced damage caused by floods and other natural disasters; and an enhanced resource base to support continued economic development, recreation, and other purposes.

Rural Development Online (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
www.rurdev.usda.gov/
USDA's Rural Development program offers financial support to improve the economy and quality of life in rural areas. Their financial programs support public facilities and services like water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities and electric and telephone service. They also promote economic development by supporting loans to businesses through banks and community-managed lending pools. They offer technical assistance and information to help agricultural and other cooperatives get started and improve the effectiveness of their member services. They also provide technical assistance to help communities undertake community empowerment programs.

Rural Economic and Community Development (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
www.rurdev.usda.gov/ocd/

U.S. Forest Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
www.fs.fed.us/
The Forest Service's goal is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the 191 million acres of National Forests and Grasslands. These areas provide multiple benefits to the country, from traditional commodities such as timber, range, forage, and minerals, to opportunities for recreation. Through the land and resource management planning process, this agency addresses the sustainability of ecosystems by restoring and maintaining species diversity and ecological productivity to provide for recreation, range, water, timber, fish, and wildlife. Through technical and financial help, the Forest Service also assists States and private landowners in promoting rural economic development, improving the natural environment of cities and communities, and practicing good stewardship on the Nation's 472 million acres of private forestland. Domestic and international activities are directed at values, products, and services that maintain ecosystem health.

National Forest System (U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
www.fs.fed.us/links/forests.shtml
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is a Federal agency that manages public lands in national forests and grasslands.

Northeastern Area Program (U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
www.na.fs.fed.us/
This program helps communities in the Northeastern United States manage their trees and forests (including urban forests) through advice, technological assistance, and financial assistance.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
www.hud.gov/
HUD's goal is to create decent, safe, and sanitary homes and living environments for every American. They do this by creating opportunities for homeownership, providing housing assistance for low-income people, creating and rehabilitating affordable housing, enforcing fair housing laws, helping the homeless, spurring economic growth in distressed neighborhoods, and helping local communities meet their development needs. Community resources and funding sources can be found at: www.hud.gov/community/index.cfm

U.S. Department of Transportation
www.dot.gov/

Bureau of Transportation Statistics (U.S. Dept. of Transportation)
www.bts.gov/
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics has a mission to compile, analyze, and publish statistics relevant to the nation's transportation system.

Federal Highway Administration (U.S. Dept. of Transportation)
www.fhwa.dot.gov/
The Federal Highway Administration coordinates highway transportation programs in cooperation with states and other partners. Major program areas include the Federal-Aid Highway Program, which provides federal financial assistance to the States to construct and improve the National Highway System, urban and rural roads, and bridges. This program provides funds for general improvements and development of safe highways and roads. The Federal Lands Highway Program provides access to and within national forests, national parks, Indian reservations and other public lands by preparing plans and contracts, supervising construction facilities, and conducting bridge inspections and surveys. The FHWA also manages a comprehensive research, development, and technology program.

Federal Railroad Administration (U.S. Dept. of Transportation)
www.fra.dot.gov/site/index.htm
The Federal Railroad Administration promotes safe and environmentally sound rail transportation. The FRA also conducts research and development tests to evaluate projects in support of its safety mission and to enhance the railroad system as a national transportation resource. Public education campaigns on highway-rail grade crossing safety and the danger of trespassing on rail property are also administered by FRA.

Federal Transit Administration (U.S. Dept. of Transportation)
www.fta.dot.gov/
The Federal Transit Administration assists in developing improved mass transportation system for cities and communities nationwide. Through its grant programs, FTA helps plan, build, and operate transit systems with convenience, cost and accessibility in mind. While buses and rail vehicles are the most common type of public transportation, other kinds include commuter ferryboats, trolleys, inclined railways, subways, and people movers. In providing financial, technical and planning assistance, the agency provides leadership and resources for safe and technologically advanced local transit systems while assisting in the development of local and regional traffic reduction. The FTA maintains the National Transit images (NTL), a repository of reports, documents, and data generated by professionals and others from around the country. The NTL is designed to facilitate document sharing among people interested in transit and transit related topics.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.gov/
The U.S. EPA has a number of divisions that work on issues related to smart growth and sustainability. Most of them also have funding for local projects; check their individual websites for details.

Brownfields (U.S. EPA)
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
EPA's Brownfields Initiative works with States, communities, and other stakeholders in economic development to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields.

Air Quality Planning and Standards (U.S. EPA)
www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/
The Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards' (OAQPS) primary mission is to preserve and improve air quality in the United States. As part of this goal, OAQPS monitors and reports on air quality, air toxics, and emissions. In addition, OAQPS provides technical information for professionals involved with monitoring and controlling air pollution, creating governmental policies, rules, and guidance for professionals and government, and educating the public about air pollution and what can be done to control and prevent it.

Air & Radiation (U.S. EPA)
www.epa.gov/oar/
Air pollution, clean air, and air quality information is provided by the U.S. EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR). OAR develops programs, technical policies, and regulations for controlling air pollution and radiation exposure. OAR is concerned with pollution prevention, indoor and outdoor air quality, industrial air pollution, pollution from vehicles and engines, radon, acid rain, stratospheric ozone depletion, and radiation protection.

Climate Protection Division (U.S. EPA)
www.epa.gov/cpd.html
The Climate Protection Division works with businesses, organizations, governments, and consumers to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change by promoting greater use of energy efficient and other cost-effective technologies.

Nonpoint Source Pollution Control (U.S. EPA)
www.epa.gov/OWOW/NPS/index.html

"Encouraging Smart Growth" (U.S. EPA)
http://www.epa.gov/livability/
Offers some descriptions of what smart growth is, information on funding for smart growth projects, and updates on federal smart growth policies.

State & Local Resources Outside of New Jersey

Austin, Texas: Smart Growth Initiative
www.ci.austin.tx.us/smartgrowth/"

Connecticut Conservation and Development Policies Plan
www.opm.state.ct.us/pdpd3/physical/C&DPlan/C&DIntro.htm
The Conservation and Development Policies Plan for Connecticut 1998-2003 (the Plan) is a statement of the State's growth, resource management, and public investment policies. The Plan provides a policy and planning framework for the administrative and programmatic actions and capital and operational investment decisions of state government, which influence the future growth and development of the state. Simply stated, the objective of the Plan is to guide a balanced response to human, environmental, and economic needs in a manner which best suits the future of Connecticut.

Florida: Florida Sustainable Communities Network
sustainable.state.fl.us
Resources on sustainable community development with a focus on communities in Florida.

Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative
www.scag.ca.gov/livable/lani.htm
The Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative is a federally recognized national model for community-driven revitalization. It was founded in 1994 to bring back a sense ofİidentity and ownership to main streets and transportation corridors throughout the city.

Maryland: Smart Growth Program
www.op.state.md.us/smartgrowth/index.html
Maryland is famous for its successful smart growth initiatives. The 1997 General Assembly adopted several specific programs, which together form the Smart Growth initiatives. Collectively, these initiatives aim to direct State resources to revitalize older developed areas, preserve some of Maryland's valuable resource and open space lands, and discourage the continuation of sprawling development into our rural areas. Maryland's landmark Smart Growth legislation allows the State to direct its programs and funding to support locally-designated growth areas and protect rural areas.

Michigan Land Use Institute
www.mlui.org/
Michigan Land Use Institute was founded in 1995 to establish a new approach to economic development that strengthens communities, enhances opportunity, and protects the state's unmatched natural resources. Their mission is to help Michigan avoid the patterns of suburban sprawl and over-development that cause traffic congestion, pollution, loss of community, rising costs to individuals and governments, and a deteriorating quality of life. This site includes:
An activist's toolkit
Growth management information
Transportation information
Land and water conservation information

Minnesota: MNSmartGrowth.org
www.metrocouncil.org/mnsmartgrowth/index2.htm
Minnestota Metropolitan Council's smart growth page.

New York State: Quality Communities Task Force
www.dos.state.ny.us/qcp/qcp2.html

Oregon Land Use Information Center
darkwing.uoregon.edu/~pppm/landuse/land_use.html
Provides information about Oregon's land use program.

Pennsylvania's Growing Greener Program
www.dep.state.pa.us/growgreen/
Pennsylvania's Growing Greener Program is a $650 million initiative over five years to preserve farmland and protect open space; eliminate the maintenance backlog in State Parks; clean up abandoned mines and restore watersheds; and provide new and upgraded water and sewer systems.

Portland: Sustainable Portland
www.sustainableportland.org/
Portland, Oregon's Office of Sustainable Development, created by Portland's City Council in 2000, is dedicated to researching and promoting social and economic health in the City. The Office of Sustainable Development creates policies and programs that integrate efforts related to energy efficiency, renewable resources, waste reduction, recycling, global warming, green building and sustainable practices, and education.

Tennessee: Smart Growth for Tennessee Towns and Cities: A Process Guide
eerc.ra.utk.edu/smart/title.htm
While this guide was developed for Tennessee's non-urban municipalities and counties with limited budgets, it will be useful for any community undertaking a smart growth effort. It provides a wealth of information about the smart growth process,İrelated concepts,İand alternative political models, techniques for planning, computer-based tools, and indicators. It also has very valuable lists of resources, including internet sites.

Washington State: Growth Management Program
smartgrowth.wa.gov/

International Governmental Resources

To Come