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Resources

This resource library is a collection of tools and informational resources to help RCP Program grantees and prospective grantees scope, address, and better define key aspects of their community reconnection projects.

Filter resources by the community reconnection themes listed in the menu below.

Equitable Development

Equitable development is crucial for fostering inclusive and sustainable communities. By ensuring fair access to resources, opportunities, and infrastructure, it promotes social cohesion and economic prosperity for all residents. This approach not only reduces disparities but also cultivates a sense of belonging and empowerment, ultimately leading to stronger, more resilient communities.

Social Equity Toolkit | Arup

This toolkit offers a roadmap for equitable development by mapping best-practice measures onto timelines, providing practical guidance on the optimal timing for policy interventions to maximize impact. Effective timing ensures each measure influences displacement appropriately, resulting in a set of complementary policies that preserve community culture and real estate affordability while accommodating urban growth and change.

Mixed-Income Transit-Oriented Development Action Guide | CTOD

This guide serves as a resource for local jurisdictions aiming to promote mixed-income transit-oriented development (MITOD) near planned transit stations. “MITOD” refers to a strategy that aims to offer diverse housing options, affordable across various income levels, to residents at different life stages within a designated transit station vicinity. The guide aims to assist practitioners in selecting and implementing suitable planning tools to achieve MITOD goals in their transit station areas, with the overarching objective of fostering mixed-income communities nationwide.

Location Affordability Index (LAI) | CNT

Housing and transportation expenses typically account for approximately half of the average household budget. However, integrating transportation costs into decisions about where to reside and work can be challenging. The LAI aims to address this issue by offering estimates of housing and transportation costs at the neighborhood level, as well as data on the built environment and demographic factors.

Localized Anti-Displacement Policies: Combatting Gentrification and Lack of Affordable Housing

This report outlines strategies to combat gentrification and the shortage of affordable housing, aiming to stabilize residents in disadvantaged communities and protect them from displacement.

How to Do Creative Placemaking | NEA

A practical guide aimed at enhancing community spaces. Featuring insightful case studies and essays by prominent creative placemaking experts, this guide explores how arts organizations and artists contribute significantly to the prosperity of communities throughout the United States.

Equitable Pathways to Small Business Recovery: An All-Hands Approach | LISC & Next City

This playbook provides a framework to create fair opportunities for small business success, with specific strategies for enhancing access to capital, building small business capacity, and supporting commercial real estate. It highlights effective approaches implemented by state and local governments in collaboration with stakeholders.

Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (eTOD) Social Impact Calculator | CNT

This calculator offers comprehensive data crucial for developers, households, neighborhoods, and communities. It covers essential metrics such as parking availability, job opportunities, public transportation access, greenhouse gas emissions, purchasing power within buildings, and bike sharing statistics.

Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) | Project Connect

This case study focuses on integrating transportation investments with community-centered policies in Austin, Texas. It aims to ensure that all residents benefit from accessible, safe, and sustainable transit while addressing racial health and wealth gaps, preserving affordable housing, expanding job opportunities, and supporting small businesses and diverse cultural heritage.

Economic Development and Highway Right-Sizing | US DOT

This paper examines how communities decide on right-sizing travel facilities, highlighting the shift from the old “one-size-fits-all” approach to more innovative, context-sensitive solutions that prioritize multimodal connections, public health, and livable communities. Designed for transportation professionals, partners, and decision makers, the document is relevant in any context where projects aim to align land use with transportation infrastructure to improve existing facilities.

A Playbook for Equitable Economic Development | IEDC

This playbook is a research and technical assistance initiative focused on addressing structural racism in economic development. It advocates for equitable practices and standards during the post-pandemic recovery and beyond and urges economic developers to adopt strategies to promote fairness and inclusivity.

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