Six tips for ensuring that new placed-based funding programs, such as the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, achieve the full potential of a new era of place-based federal investment.

The series of federal stimulus, infrastructure, and inflation bills that have been signed into law by presidents Trump and Biden since the beginning of the pandemic is unprecedented in many ways. According to a recent report by the Brookings Institution, the rare opportunity presented by this spate of new federal investments includes a new focus on place-based initiatives.
“Across the federal government, agencies are launching larger-scale, more in-depth initiatives for accelerating innovation, optimizing supply chains, mitigating climate change, and addressing demographic and geographic inequities,” write Joseph Parilla and Glencora Haskins.
The article cites the Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) as the case in point. The Biden administration announced the winners of the BBBRC’s competitive grant process in September 2022, funding 21 projects in 24 states with grants between $25 million and $65 million. To describe the intended focus and effect of the BBBRC, Parilla and Haskins write: “These investments will support the local development of nationally critical technology clusters, and attempt to do so in ways that deliver economic opportunity to traditionally underserved people and communities.”
The article provides six policy design “keys” to unlock the potential of new place-based funding programs, informed by insights from the BBBRC so far, as listed below (with more details in the source article):
- Macro-relevant
- Micro-based
- Network-focused
- Competition-driven
- Leaning-enabled
- Rick-adjusted
The list and the article is taken from a full report published by Brookings in November [pdf].
FULL STORY: Six keys to unlocking a new era of place-based federal investment

New York Governor Advances Housing Plan Amid Stiff Suburban Opposition
Governor Kathy Hochul’s ambitious proposal to create more housing has once again run into a brick wall of opposition in New York’s enormous suburbs, especially on Long Island. This year, however, the wall may have some cracks.

A Serious Critique of Congestion Costs and Induced Vehicle Travel Impacts
Some highway advocates continue to claim that roadway expansions are justified to reduce traffic congestion. That's not what the research shows. It's time to stop obsessing over congestion and instead strive for efficient accessibility.

Rethinking the Role of Parking in the American City
In cities big and small, the tide is turning against sprawling parking lots, car-centric development, and minimum parking mandates.

Mapping Sidewalks for Improved Connectivity
A new tool uses aerial image recognition to map a city’s sidewalks and crosswalks. Its developers hope it will aid in creating a more comprehensive understanding of pedestrian networks and where improvements are needed.

Long Beach Residents Oppose Proposed Homeless Services Hub Near Rail Terminus
L.A. Metro’s “end-of-the-line” policy forces people experiencing homeless off transit every night at the same time and location. A proposed hub would provide services a few stops before the end of the line in Long Beach.

The Nation's Most Advanced Secessionist Movement
Legislation supporting the Greater Idaho Movement, which would annex over half of neighboring Oregon, has advanced in the Idaho legislature.
City of Greenville
City of Greenville
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Spearfish
City of Lomita
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.