Benefits to Your Community

Planning grants have been awarded to communities that have demonstrated a desire to preserve and/or enhance their quality of life and plan for the future. As a result, the projects have varied in scope. Although there is no one right way to achieve the goals established by a community, a majority of the funds appropriated have been used to develop General Land Use Plans.

Governor Walker signed an Executive Order directing all State Agencies to work with the Quality Growth Commission to identify incentives and other benefits in support of the Quality Growth Communities initiative. To view the Governor's Executive Order, click here.

Most Agencies are currently in the rulemaking process to formalize their incentives and benefits. The following is a sample of the incentives that have been discussed with GOPB:

Department of Natural Resources, Board of Water Resources : Quality Growth Communities or Service Providers receive the first non-emergency priority for funding of water projects.

Department of Environmental Quality, Drinking Water Board : Certified communities or service providers receive a ½-point interest rate reduction on water loans. Also, they are considering a change to the requirements for their planning advance program - if the recipient receives their Certification within a period of time; their advance becomes a grant that does not need to be repaid.

Department of Community and Economic Development, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG): Applicants for State-funded CDBG earn an additional point if they have received their Certification.

Department of Transportation : Local "corridor preservation" and "safe sidewalk" funding programs will be directed towards Quality Growth Communities and Service Providers.

Department of Community and Economic Development, Private Activity Bond Authority : The Board is giving a "soft preference" to Quality Growth Communities and Service Providers (i.e. if two projects are equally ranked, the award follows the Certification).

Non-state entities have also voiced their support for the initiative. For example,

Utah Transit Authority : The Authority is incorporating the Quality Growth Communities designation into service and investment decisions, investigating a discounted transit pass program for large-scale housing developments that are supported by the Commission, and dedicating staff time for the creation of a "pool of experts" that can assist communities that would like to include transit in their planning.

This page will be updated as incentives and benefits are formalized. All State Departments are ordered to find incentives, or notify the Commission of their inability to provide a relevant benefit, by December 2004.
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