How local incentives helped clinch an apartment deal in a rent-controlled Maryland county

Investors took advantage of Montgomery County’s by-right Payment in Lieu of Taxes program to buy a multifamily building that will be converted to a mixed-income affordable housing community.

By Leslie Shaver • June 8, 2026

Federal money is still there. The rules for winning it have changed.

Priorities have shifted under the Trump administration, but billions in federal dollars are still available. Communities that adapt their messaging, align with new federal priorities and stay in the game can bring that money home.

By Amanda Wood • June 8, 2026

How self-service is revolutionizing state and local government

Governments are moving from people-dependent processes to people-centric self-service. Here's why.

By David Tran • June 8, 2026

House transportation committee commits to ‘safety, reliability’ while reviewing Trump FY 2027 budget ask

“We've had a productive session so far,” said Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., during a markup session of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

By Dan Zukowski • June 5, 2026

More federal funding for local parks could soon be available. Here’s how to apply.

A new funding round could provide cities with up to $15 million for parks and recreation projects. Local engagement and implementation plans could make or break applications, experts say.

By Vicky Uhland • June 4, 2026

Nominate a project for the 2026 Smart Cities Dive Community Project Awards

The awards will highlight innovation and effective use of technology to solve real community problems.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • June 2, 2026

Washington Union Station renovation gets $466M from US DOT

The Department of Transportation will take a lead role in redeveloping the station and increasing its revenue potential.

By Dan Zukowski • May 29, 2026

How 2 cities are rethinking hiring approaches to fill public works jobs

Baltimore cut hiring bottlenecks, while Columbus, Ohio, partnered with a women’s prison to connect overlooked workers to city careers, Work for America case studies found.

By Lori Tobias • May 29, 2026

Transit, Amtrak cuts advance in House appropriations bill

The one-year bill cuts public transit funding by 22%, Amtrak by 69% and Capital Investment Grants by 78% for fiscal year 2027 but puts “a historic amount of funding” into bridges.

By Dan Zukowski • May 27, 2026

ClearGov launches interactive AI platform to communicate city budgets

Rochester Hills, Michigan, received hundreds of resident comments in a pilot effort to reach its “silent majority,” a case study found.

By Ryan Kushner • May 26, 2026

As ARPA winds down, small cities ace the infrastructure funding test: NLC

Strong property tax revenue and federal recovery funds allowed many smaller municipalities to use cash rather than debt for projects, positioning them well for the future, a National League of Cities report shows.

By Vicky Uhland • May 26, 2026

Amtrak, DOT name developer for New York Penn Station renovation project

The Federal Railroad Administration also announced $200 million in additional funding for the $8 billion project.

By Dan Zukowski • May 21, 2026

House committee agrees to $580B surface transportation legislation

The Republican and Democratic leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee propose EV registration fees and continued funding for Amtrak and public transportation.

By Dan Zukowski • May 18, 2026

Sanctuary from what? Abortion, gun rights, other measures test the limits of local sanctuary policies.

As cities adopt protections for trans people, reproductive care, the unborn, gun owners and even bears, questions about enforcement, legal stakes and the cost of defying higher governments remain.

By Danielle McLean • May 18, 2026

California governor proposes $500M to address homelessness — with new strings

Localities seeking Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention funding would have to demonstrate efforts to address homeless encampments in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised state budget proposal.

By Ryan Kushner • May 15, 2026

Surface transportation legislation in 2026: What we know so far

Congress has begun work that will determine the next five years of funding and policies for highways, mass transit and other transportation modes.

By Dan Zukowski • Updated June 1, 2026

Governments should help finance infrastructure — not construct and run it

When delays and cost escalations carry no financial consequence, they become routine. To prevent this, project governance structures must align capital with performance.

By Bob Hellman • May 7, 2026

How cities and transit agencies are preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

An influx of out-of-town and international visitors creates challenges to keeping transit systems and roadways running smoothly.

By Smart Cities Dive Staff • May 5, 2026

Mayors look to shape AI policy — and the technology itself — in new coalition

“Local governments must set the frameworks to shape the use and impacts of these technologies,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a member of the global Mayors AI Forum.

By Ryan Kushner • May 1, 2026

Who should decide budgets? Some cities are starting to share the power.

Participatory budgeting is reshaping how funds are allocated, bringing residents into decisions that elected officials and staff traditionally controlled, an expert says.

By Vicky Uhland • May 1, 2026

Meet the 2026 Smart Cities Dive Public Service Award winners

Read about the local government leaders in Florida, New York and Texas being honored for how they’re driving local impact.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 30, 2026

Fort Walton Beach, Florida’s finance director brings fiscal discipline after a period of scandal

After a period of scandal and staff turnover, Smart Cities Dive Public Service Award winner Nicole Nabors is rebuilding trust through technology and transparency.

By Stephanie Kanowitz • April 30, 2026

This New York City leader unlocked a century of data, turning paper files into actionable intelligence

Smart Cities Dive Public Service Award winner Janet Aristy is modernizing New York City's infrastructure systems while empowering the next generation of public servants.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • April 30, 2026

Leading with ‘grace and grit’ in a binational border county

Smart Cities Dive Public Service Award winner Betsy Keller has brought strategic planning, building modernization and a push to “make it about the people” to El Paso County, Texas.

By Ryan Kushner • April 30, 2026

Cities urged to apply now for safe streets and roads grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s SS4A funding opportunity may be its last if the program isn’t renewed, a Stantec executive said.

By Dan Zukowski • April 29, 2026