The American Planning Association
The official website of the American Planning Association, a nonprofit organization that offers planning information and resources.  

Smart Communities Network
A project of the U. S. Department of Energy offering information and services on how your community can incorporate the principles of sustainable development. Includes case studies, resources, articles about land use, green building, transportation, energy, and rural issues.

Conservation Design for Subdivisions
A Practical Guide to Creating Open Space Networks describes a straight-forward way to ensure that new subdivisions are designed around the central organizing principle of conservation. This technique can also be used to help communities create an interconnected network of open space through creative approaches to land development.

The Heartland Center For Leadership Development
The Heartland Center for Leadership Development is an independent, nonprofit organization focused on developing local leadership. They provide practical resources and public policies for rural community survival.

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is an educational institution established to investigate issues of land use, planning and tax policy.

Non-point Education for Municipal Officials
NEMO is an educational program for local land use officials that addresses the relationship of land use to natural resource protection.

Planning Commissioners Journal
PCJ is the nation's principal publication for non-professional citizen planners, including members of local planning commissions and zoning boards.

Land Use Consultants: Free Planning Advice
Professional planning firms offer free initial consultation to local governments.

Local Government Environmental Assistance Network
A site providing environmental management, planning, funding, and regulatory information for local government-elected and appointed officials, managers, and staff.

EPA's Smart Growth Policy Database
The US Environmental Protection Agency's resources on smart growth.

Smart Growth Online
Details the principles and issues of smart growth, with case studies, news and resources.

Sprawl Watch
A clearinghouse of sprawl and development related current events.

Sprawl City
Addresses consumption and population growth and their role in creating urban sprawl.

Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND)
Includes the principles, techniques, and case studies of TND developments.

Vermont Forum on Sprawl
Extensive list of resources, research and publications regarding sprawl and its impact on rural environments.

Center for Livable Communities
A national, nonprofit organization that works wtih local governments and community leaders to promote economically and culturally sustainable town growth strategies.

Cyurbia
Cyurbia is an online planning community offering resources and discussion on national and local sustainable planning issues.

Planetizen
Online network of planners and planning resources designed for public-interest information exchange on a wide variety of planning issues.

PlannersWeb
An online journal intended to give education resources to citizen planners.

Terrain.org
An online publication that displays technical, journalistic, literary, and artistic works celebrating the built and natural environment and useful for town planning.

PlaceMatters.com
An independent affiliate of the Orton Family Foundation, PlaceMatters.com is a national network of creative practitioners who come together to learn, share, and inspire each other, elevating the art and science of planning for vibrant and sustainable communities.

Community Planning
A community planning site that helps both residents and professionals better shape their local environments.

Community Problem Solving
An MIT project that helps people in the public, private, and non-profit sectors address issues such as housing, health care, the environment, and economic development by giving access to strategic and program-oriented information.

The New Rules Project
The Institute for Local Self Reliance promotes the tenets of "new localism", which encourages participatory democracy and thoughtful, responsible planning.

The Local Government Commission
A nonprofit membership organization that provides information and resources to local elected officials and community leaders in order to promote healthy, liveable, resource-efficient communities.

Sustainable Communities Network
The SCN works to connect citizens and resources in order to promote the growth of sustainable communities.

National Affordable and Community Housing Resources

Citizen Housing and Planning Association Publications
The Citizen Housing and Planning Association seeks to promote affordable housing and community development in Massachusetts through advocacy, research, education, and collaboration.   

Housing Assistance Council and Publications
An organization offering services and publications to address rural affordable housing and development issues.