Program Areas

Overview

 

Livability has become the framework for our Congress, our administration, and our federal agencies to invest in the quality of life, economic competitiveness, and recovery of the American community.  

Yet “livability” is a broad term encompassing many values.  Partners for Livable Communities, in association with the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum, hosted a forum that discusses how quality of life, economic development, and social services can be addressed  by engaging the full range of livability values, including transportation, housing, and amenities such as arts, cultural heritage, and design.  This blending of strategies has created a livability tool kit that city, state, and national leaders can use to revitalize the American community.

Our program featured a view of livability at the crossroads, a panel of federal officials outlining the federal livability agendas, and perspectives on how economic, social, and quality of life development fit into these agendas.  The forum sought to create a framework to advance cooperation among our federal partners, Congressional leaders, and staff as they weave resources together to restore the vigor and reinforce the livability of communities across America.

What:		A forum to create a common livability framework that incorporates the full range of tools available to the movement.
When:		Wednesday, September 22, 2010 2:00 - 5:00 PM (followed by an outdoor reception on the Hirshhorn Plaza)
Where:		Ring Auditorium Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden Washington, DC
Who:		Congressional representatives, federal agencies, think tanks, cultural institutions, and community development leaders

Close

Eighty million members of the boomer generation (born between 1946–1964) have reached or are approaching the traditional retirement age of 65. These boomers overwhelmingly want to age in place. Yet few communities are prepared to meet the needs of older residents, or to engage these residents in civic life.

In response, the Center for Civic Partnerships created Aging Well in Communities: A Toolkit for Planning, Engagement & Action.

As many traditional economic drivers leave our cities, institutions like libraries, colleges, and arts organizations are now the key to supporting vibrant communities.  Given the right leadership and resources, these “anchor” institutions can act as fulcrums of change for leveraging stronger development agendas. 

In order to achieve this goal, institutional leaders across the country are seeking guidance on how to use their own missions to improve their communities.  A new report, released by CEOs for Cities and Living Cities, responds to this call for direction.  How to Behave Like an Anchor Institution presents six case studies of institutions that have successfully become “community anchors, developers and forces of change for their neighborhoods.”

Read more about the project and download the full report by clicking here. 
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Click here to learn more about Partners’ related program, Institutions as Fulcrums of Change, which seeks to initiate changes in the philosophy and programming of community institutions to help them strengthen their communities.

Partners is excited to announce the release of the second volume of the Economics of Sustainability, “The Dollars and Sense of Green Business,” made possible by support from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. This publication is a continuation of Partners’ sustainability agenda and explores the innovation and leadership of 22 chambers of commerce from around the country—true champions of the green economy. To read more about Partners’ Economics of Sustainability initiative, click here.

Syracuse, NY

When most people think of New York, they’re quick to conjure up images of the Empire State Building and Wall Street. But in the era of clean energy, New York’s emerging ‘Green Apple’ is giving the renowned Big Apple a run for its money as the innovation center of the state. With over 30 colleges and universities, the Central Upstate New York region has one of the highest concentrations of students in the country. Couple that with market leaders such as GE Global Research, GM Research and Carrier Corporation that are developing world class new clean technologies, along with $2 billion in annually funded R&D at the region’s top six research institutions, and you’ve got a region prime for green technology incubation. The Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce has been leading that green revolution.  In July of 2009 with a $1.5 million grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the Syracuse Chamber proudly unveiled The Clean Tech Center, a clean energy business incubator program—one of the first of its kind in the country.