Local Development

2 articles

Diverse citizens and local officials collaborating on community development plans around a table with blueprints and maps.

How to Participate in Local Development Planning for 2026

A small municipality, by adopting a Voluntary Local Review (VLR) process, found its previously siloed departments—from urban planning to social services—suddenly collaborating on shared sustainability

Derek Molina·June 20, 2026

Diverse group of people actively tending to a flourishing community garden, symbolizing growth, collaboration, and access to resources.

Neighborhoods

How to Start and Sustain a Community Garden for Long-Term Growth

A single community garden can unlock up to $1 million in federal funding, a critical resource for local development.

Derek Molina·June 19, 2026