Policy Action Kara Wilbur Policy Action Kara Wilbur

Highlights From Policy Action 2023

Build Maine and GrowSmart Maine innovated a new process for engaging a broad statewide conversation, best described as public policy crowdsourcing. Learn about work that started in 2019, involving hundreds of people across the state, and the big policy moves from the 2023 session to improve built outcomes while reducing demand for development on rural lands.

Nancy Smith, GrowSmart Maine; Zoe Miller, Moving Maine Network; Josh Caldwell, Natural Resources Council of Maine, Tara Kelly, Maine Preservation; Representative Melanie Sachs; Representative Traci Gere

Build Maine and GrowSmart Maine innovated a new process for engaging a broad statewide conversation, best described as public policy crowdsourcing. Learn about work that started in 2019, involving hundreds of people across the state, and the big policy moves from the 2023 session to improve built outcomes while reducing demand for development on rural lands.

Read More

Breaking From the Suburban Era to Unlock Housing: Strategies From Maine, New Hampshire + Vermont

Northern New England states are making big moves to shift to a place-based approach to investment by strengthening state and regional support for local planning and coordinating state funding in service of local housing and development projects. Learn about new programs to provide a state-level path to project approvals in New Hampshire, tools to help enable small-scale building types in Vermont, realignment of programs to support planning by Maine communities, and more.Building Small presents an insightful view at what is possible along with the tools needed to make it happen.

Moderator: Representative Traci Gere; Sarah Curran | Deputy Director, Climate Planning and Community Partnerships, Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future; Jacob Hemmerick | Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development; George Reagan | Director, Community Engagement, New Hampshire Housing

Northern New England states are making big moves to shift to a place-based approach to investment by strengthening state and regional support for local planning and coordinating state funding in service of local housing and development projects. Learn about new programs to provide a state-level path to project approvals in New Hampshire, tools to help enable small-scale building types in Vermont, realignment of programs to support planning by Maine communities, and more.Building Small presents an insightful view at what is possible along with the tools needed to make it happen.

Read More