Sustainable communities

The Sacramento Region is renown nation-wide for its innovation and leadership in integrating land use, transportation, housing, air quality, and recently food and farm, and carbon reduction strategies that make for a more sustainable community.  The region’s 2050 vision of a sustainable region – known as the “Blueprint”– was adopted by the Council of Governments in 2004 and, given its success and acclaim, has served as a prototype for 8 other regions in California
and has been the topic of national news stories and government and association awards.  Blueprint was created and carried out by SACOG and Valley Vision over the course of three years, and remains one of the most significant contributions
that is making our region more prosperous, just and sustainable.

In a new development, SACOG has won a $1.5m planning grant as part of the new federal Sustainable Communities program.  The award announcement, made Friday, Oct. 15, 2010, is among the first awards in the U.S.  Created and submitted by SACOG with the aid of many partner organizations, the grant will help us accelerate transit oriented development, support integrative land use planning, and improve regional coordination.  Valley Vision will serve as a lead partner, a co-convener, and as a strategic advisor to the effort. 

In making the announcement in Sacramento, Deputy Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ron Sims said that, when it comes to sustainable communities, the Sacramento Region is among America’s leaders.  After ticking off a long list of the Capital Region’s recent sustainability accomplishments, Sims commented, “You are perfect, but you can do better.”  This planning grant, when combined with the current update of the region’s long-range transportation investment plan and carbon reduction strategies, will add more knowledge and engage more people in creating a truly sustainable and economically resilient region.   

To learn more about Sustainable Communities, click the following links:

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant program

The Sacramento Blueprint for Transportation and Land Use

The current update of the long-range transportation investment plan, known as the 2035 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, or MTP

The Rural – Urban Connections Strategy, or RUCS, that focuses on rural lands and economic development in the Capital Region

The Food System Collaborative, the community engagement arm of RUCS managed by Valley Vision, focused on improving ag sustainability and food access, especially in underserved areas

Project contact:

For more information, contact Bill Mueller at bill.mueller@valleyvision.org.