Byram receives smart growth award

BYRAM — Smart Growth America announced that Byram is one of 15 communities nationwide that have been selected to receive this year’s free smart growth technical assistance. The assistance is made possible by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Sustainable Communities. Their Building Blocks program funds quick, targeted assistance to communities that face common development problems. Three other nonprofit organizations — Forterra (formerly Cascade Land Conservancy), Global Green USA and Project for Public Spaces — also received competitively awarded grants under this program this year to help communities get the kinds of development they want. The communities represent major cities, suburban communities and rural towns. Smart Growth America said this shows that all types of communities are interested in using smart growth strategies to build stronger local economies, create jobs and improve overall quality of life. Each community will receive a 1-2 days of training with a smart growth expert on the issue of their choice. Smart Growth America received nearly 90 applications from 34 states plus the District of Columbia for this technical assistance. The organization said the 15 communities selected exhibited the strongest interest in and need for smart growth tools and clearly demonstrated a commitment from local business, community and political leaders to implement local smart growth solutions.