How small towns like Fargo and Reno have become job magnets and some of the 'hottest places in America.'
"While the great migration from Rust Belt cities to such Sun Belt giants as Phoenix and Houston has been under way for years, what's new is that the hottest places in America to find jobs are small and midsize towns, and not all of them are in the warmer latitudes....many smaller regions share characteristics that act as job magnets: lower costs, tax breaks for employers, funding for entrepreneurs and a deepening pool of skilled and educated workers....How do these towns come up with the jobs? Companies don't move to places like Fargo on a whim; it generally takes money in the form of incentives. Arkansas has spent $700 million on roads and airports around Fayetteville over the past decade. Cities like Fort Myers and Santa Fe, N.M., offer tax-abatement packages to businesses big and small in exchange for creating jobs. So do lots of places, including big cities. That's why livability is often the clincher."
Thanks to Connie Chung
FULL STORY: Hot Towns

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

Portland Council Tentatively Approves Sidewalk Repair Plan
The proposal would address sidewalk needs in Portland’s District 1 and District 4.

Expanding Access to Design Education at Honolulu Community College
Honolulu Community College’s Architecture, Engineering & Construction Technologies program highlights the role of community colleges in preparing nontraditional students for careers in architectural and construction technologies.

Integrating Human Rights Into Energy and Extractive Sector Transitions
Why just transition efforts must move beyond economic considerations by embedding human rights principles into business practices to ensure equitable, transparent, and accountable outcomes for affected communities and workers.
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.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
Tyler Technologies
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions