Whether an established expert or a new professional Rail-Volution can help you: jumpstart a project with fresh ideas for both public and private sectors, engage your community with useful tools for advocates and elected officials, shape the future with new contacts and perspective and energize your career. Be sure to look for Smart Growth America staff speaking at the conference! Learn more and register.

EcoDistricts Summit - September 24-26 - Washington, DC

Sustainable district and neighborhood development projects are emerging in cities worldwide, so the Summit will feature information-rich education sessions, keynotes, and workshops designed to share field reports and test emerging best practices from North America and beyond. Register now to take advantage of early bird pricing.

FYI... Items of Interest

Owners of historic commercial properties take note: Now is the time to submit an application for a state income tax credit for renovating your historic structures in Maryland. The Maryland Historical Trust is accepting fiscal year 2015 applications for the Sustainable Communities Competitive Commercial Tax Credit program through August 31. Commercial property owners may receive a tax credit of up to 20 percent of eligible expenses to a total of $3 million for substantial rehabilitation projects.

The Maryland Scenic Byways Program Advisory Committee has published a strategic plan to integrate Maryland's Scenic Byways to the surrounding landscape. Maryland Scenic Byways: Moving Forward Toward Sustainability guides and supports the system of scenic byways as an integral part of Maryland's transportation network. As part of the plan, the State Highway Administration (SHA) is installing new signs for the state and national routes to meet modern traffic standards. For local agencies and advocates, the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) and SHA developed the Scenic Byways Resource Protection Application, a GIS-based mapping tool to inventory protected, vulnerable and threatened resources along Maryland's Scenic Byways.

To stay abreast of comp plan reviews throughout Maryland, check MDP's Local Comprehensive Plan page regularly.

Recent Reports & Publications

Tools for Transit Oriented Development MDP's comprehensive online planning and implementation resource offers tools for planners, developers, elected officials and residents to advance transit-oriented development in their jurisdictions.

Tax Increment Financing: User Guide for Maryland Sustainable Community Revitalization

To address community infrastructure needs and attract development projects that further local goals, local governments can consider Tax Increment Financing (TIF), a method that capitalizes on an increase in property tax receipts from new development to pay for public improvements that promote economic development. Learn more about how to use this financing tool following the 2013 Maryland law enhancing the ability of local governments to use TIF.

Citizens Guide to Restoring the Bay: What Every Resident Can Do For those who want to play a role in restoring bay health comes this new, reader-friendly guide that dishes up dozens of strategies for residents, developers, farmers and others interested in helping reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff and sediment build-up.

Maryland Planning Today is a service of the Maryland Department of Planning

Links to articles posted in this e-mail are the property of the media providers hosting them. The Maryland Department of Planning is providing links to articles relevant to planning and growth as service to its mailing list subscribers. The views expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of MDP or the State of Maryland.

Maryland Department of Planning Media Contacts

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