What is the National APA’s Community Assistance Program?
The purpose of APA’s Community Planning Assistance Teams (CPAT) is to help underserved communities address planning issues through direct engagement with the public and the pro bono skills and experience of professional, certified planners from around the country.
By pairing a multidisciplinary team of expert planning professionals from around the country with community members, key stakeholders, and relevant decision makers, the place-based initiative seeks to foster community education, engagement, and empowerment.
Each team is selected for the specific expertise needed on the project to offer pro bono assistance in developing a framework or vision plan that promotes a sustainable, livable, economically vibrant, and healthy community.
Communities facing a range of challenges including, but not limited to, social equity and affordability, economic development, sustainability, consensus building, and urban design are well-suited for assistance through the program. Projects focus on localities with a demonstrated need for assistance, where planning resources and expertise may not otherwise be available.
Learn more about hosting a CPAT Team or participating as a CPAT Team member at http://www.planning.org/communityassistance/teams/.
