A charrette is an intensive planning and design-based engagement process covering the vital period before projects are finalised or built, to produce masterplans where everyone feels that they have had a constructive input. The charrette’s proven three-step design and engagement process can be customised for many different planning, urban design and development projects. Well known [...]

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We thought you may be interested in this grant opportunity. Let me know if you choose to apply. NCI is available to provide training and facilitation support for your projects. Please contact Bill Lennertz, NCI’s Executive Director at bill@charretteinstitute.org or 503-233-8486 ext 1# RFP now available for Local Sustainability Matching Fund Deadline March 5, 2012 [...]

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Free Technical Assistance Available from NCI and Other Organizations NCI is a technical assistance provider working through a grant to the Project for Public Spaces from US EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities under their Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program. This grant makes it possible for us and our partners at the newly formed coalition, [...]

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We’re excited to announce that NCI is a member of the Project for Public Spaces (PPS) team that has received a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency to provide technical assistance to communities seeking to implement sustainable and smart growth development and programs. Through this program NCI will be available to provide free technical [...]

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November 16, 2011, 10:00-11:30 am PST (1:00-2:30 pm EST) Note: after live webinar date a recording will be available Register today at: https://shop.charretteinstitute.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=WEB5-11 Overview Stephen Coyle’s new book, Sustainable and Resilient Communities, presents a step-by-step action plan for making communities resilient, resourceful, and healthy. This webinar will focus on stormwater (aka rainwater). Presented by Stephen [...]

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The Partnership for Sustainable Communities is an historic effort by federal agencies to work together in a collaborative holistic approach to community planning. NCI Director Bill Lennertz spent a good part of this September and October training and facilitating discussions between HUD, EPA, DOT and USDA staff members. One of the major topics was how [...]

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Changing project users mindsets and preconceptions about sustainability is a prerequisite to implementing sustainable design projects in which users take ownership. Charrettes create an immersive, shared-learning environment that promotes a shift in mindsets. Sustainable projects have a complex set of environmental, economic, and social variables plus a large, diverse set of stakeholders. The NCI Charrette [...]

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