Each year the American Planning Association (APA) recognizes October as National Community Planning Month by celebrating the meaningful work that planners do to improve the well-being of all people living within our nation’s communities. Twenty-twenty is no exception. In fact, the association says that “planning is more important than ever as communities continue to navigate the disruptive changes brought about by the pandemic.”
Accordingly, this year’s theme, Planning is Essential to Recovery, highlights how planning and planners can lead communities to equitable, resilient, and long-lasting recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like the APA, Tennessee-based BOLDplanning understands and appreciates the importance of community planning, particularly in the areas of business continuity, emergency operations, and hazard mitigation. That’s why we encourage you to take this opportunity, National Community Planning Month 2020, to share your community’s COVID-19 success stories with the association and countless others, perhaps even members of Congress.
Simply visit https://www.votervoice.net/PLANNING/Surveys/6337/Respond to briefly explain the specific actions your planning team has taken to help your community (or clients) respond to the pandemic, and how your planning team has helped to keep essential local government operations running since March of this year.
“These are the impact stories Congress needs to hear to better understand why localities need both new, direct relief and flexibility immediately,” says the APA. “The local planning that will power recovery depends on it.”
The APA provides leadership in the development of vital communities for all by advocating excellence in planning, promoting education and resident empowerment, and providing our members with the tools and support necessary to ethically meet the challenges of growth and change.
On behalf of the entire BOLDplanning team, thank you to all our nation’s community planners. Keep up the great work and as requested by the APA, continue to engage local, state, and federally elected officials by encouraging them to proclaim October as Community Planning Month.
