Insights
Notes from the field
Quick, practical takeaways on planning, governance, and grants.
-
Planning June 8, 2026
The Permit Counter Should Not Be a Guessing Game
A lot of small projects get delayed not by policy fights, but by unclear submittal lists, shifting timelines, and uncertainty about who decides what. HUD identifies inefficient procedures as a real barrier to housing, and Kansas CDBG guidance shows how local projects already depend on clearly sequenced review steps, notices, roles, and documentation.
Read more → -
Codes & Zoning June 1, 2026
Your Zoning Code Is Probably Older Than Your Housing Problem
Rural housing shortages are not only financing issues. HUD says barriers can come from zoning decisions, land-use policies, inefficient procedures, and inadequate infrastructure, while Oklahoma's 2024 housing needs assessment and Kansas' statewide housing work were designed to help communities understand those local constraints more clearly.
Read more → -
Infrastructure May 25, 2026
Fix the Asset List Before You Promise the Project
EPA defines asset management as managing infrastructure capital assets to minimize total cost while delivering the service level customers want, and its guidance is specifically aimed at small and medium water and wastewater systems. That matters in places like Oklahoma and Arkansas, where ASCE still estimates billions in drinking-water needs.
Read more → -
Implementation May 18, 2026
Growth Costs More Than the Subdivision Plat Shows
GFOA's capital-planning guidance ties projects to revenues and financing sources over a three-to-five-year horizon, and EPA's asset-management framework starts with service levels and inventory rather than project enthusiasm. Growth decisions work better when they are tied to long-term maintenance and replacement costs, not only the upfront extension.
Read more → -
Grants May 11, 2026
Matching Funds Should Be Planned a Year Early
Local match is not a last-week paperwork problem. Kansas CDBG requires local funding for most projects and stresses committed, documented match; FEMA defines cost share as the non-federal share of a federally assisted project; and some USDA programs also require matching funds.
Read more → -
Implementation May 4, 2026
Write the Scope Before You Write the Grant
FEMA says a scope of work should identify the activity, explain what will be accomplished, and describe how it will be implemented in enough detail to verify costs. Federal procurement rules also require local governments to maintain oversight so contractors perform according to the terms, conditions, and specifications of the contract.
Read more → -
Grants April 27, 2026
Build the Grant File for Closeout on Day One
Current federal rules require recipients to submit final reports within 120 days after the period of performance, and a single audit is required when a non-federal entity expends $1 million or more in federal awards in a fiscal year. Kansas CDBG also expects a closeout packet and follow-through on future documentation and compliance requirements.
Read more → -
Governance April 20, 2026
New Board Members Need a Real Orientation
This is not a formality. Arkansas planning-official training is designed for planning commissioners, mayors, fire chiefs, and others who work with commissions, and APA notes that planning officials are often appointed with no background or training in community planning. Open-government guides in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas also make clear that public business happens under procedural rules.
Read more → -
Community Engagement April 13, 2026
One Meeting Notice Is Not Public Communication
Open-meeting law sets the floor, not the ceiling. Kansas CDBG requires reasonable opportunities for citizens to participate and adequate, timely information so they can be meaningfully involved, while Arkansas's citizen-participation guidance emphasizes maximum involvement in identifying and prioritizing housing and community-development needs.
Read more → -
Governance April 6, 2026
If Two Jurisdictions Need the Same Fix, Stop Working Alone
Federal procurement rules explicitly encourage state and local intergovernmental or inter-entity agreements when they improve economy and efficiency. Kansas law allows cities and counties to cooperate jointly, Kansas CDBG actively uses interlocal agreements for partnered and multi-jurisdictional projects, and USDA's Rural Community Development Initiative is built around capacity building for housing, community facilities, and community and economic development in rural areas.
Read more →