ICMA’s Center for Sustainable Communities provides leading practice research, training, technical assistance, and communication regarding sustainability for local government professionals and stakeholders. In partnership with other organizations, the Center manages training events such as the National Brownfields Conference (EPA), and the SunShot Solar Outreach Workshops (DOE).

Here are a few publications you might find interesting if you’re searching for resources:

• Special Edition of PM Magazine on Sustainability - The June 2012 edition of PM Magazine and PM Magazine Online explored the concept of local government and sustainable communities from a variety of perspectives.
• Solar Briefing Papers – Designed to help planners and public officials understand key issues in planning for solar energy use.  Topics include:
  • Solar Community Engagement Strategies for Planners
  • Solar Mapping
  • Integrating Solar Energy into Local Plans
  • Integrating Solar Energy into Local Development Regulations
  • Balancing Solar Energy Use with Potential Competing Interests
  • Recycling Land for Solar Energy Development
• Breaking New Ground:  Promoting Environmental and Energy Programs in Local Government  analyzes the results of the 2010 survey on local government sustainability policies and programs.
• Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities  discusses smart growth strategies being used in small towns around the country.
• Getting Smart About Climate Change - A report about how some communities are applying smart growth approaches to reduce their carbon footprint (produced as part of ICMA's cooperative agreement with the U.S. EPA).
• Solar Energy Case Studies - As part of the SunShot Solar OPS project, ICMA has developed several case studies of leading practice "solar" communities, including: Park City, Utah; Aurora, Colorado; Santa Barbara, California; Lenox, Massachusetts; and a Solarize Case Study of two communities in Oregon.

The Center for Sustainable Communities recently launched a new Solar Outreach Partnership website, which lists helpful resources like Solar Powering Your Community, a guide for local governments created by the United States Department of Energy. A few of their upcoming events include a free Solar Roadmap webinar on June 6th about best practices used to transform economies through solar development, and interactive workshops that provide information on creating local-level solar programs in Omaha, Nebraska and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Visit the Sustainable Communities blog for recent news, including information about our first CityLinks climate adaptation webinar on June 4th, the National Brownfields Conference, and the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities Centennial Challenge. To learn more about CityLinks, peruse the CityLinks website and the Notes from CityLinks blog, follow us on Twitter @ICMACityLinks, or e-mail international@icma.org.