2026 Smart Cities Dive Community Project Award Winners: Solving real community needs

Addressing energy costs, housing, transportation and community engagement, these initiatives exemplify the innovation that helps cities and counties improve residents’ lives.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 10, 2026

The Smart Cities Dive Awards

To highlight notable people and projects in U.S. city, county and regional government, Smart Cities Dive presents the Public Service Awards and the Community Project Awards.

By Rachel H. Pollack • Sept. 10, 2026

Tariff uncertainty shaking border city ‘to the core,’ mayor says

The U.S. trade fight with Canada is causing businesses to cut back on investment and hiring, Rochester Hills, Michigan, Mayor Bryan Barnett says.

By Vicky Uhland • Sept. 9, 2026

Homeless services contracts to get a ‘reset’ in San Francisco

The city plans to reissue more than $500 million in annual grants and contracts, with an emphasis on outcomes.

By Ryan Kushner • Sept. 8, 2026

Financing climate resilience: 3 ways cities are pivoting as federal funding dwindles

Local leaders are turning to layered programs, new financing tools and deeper community engagement to prepare for extreme weather.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 4, 2026

AI oversight still lacking in NYC despite city progress: state audit

The city has “partially implemented” state recommendations to bolster AI governance, the New York State comptroller found.

By Ryan Kushner • Sept. 3, 2026

For affordable housing fund, Cleveland embraces private partnerships

The city launched a fund to build up to 3,000 affordable housing units using leftover American Rescue Plan Act money.

By Ryan Kushner • Sept. 2, 2026

DOT proposes streamlining land leases along roads, railroads for utility use

Revenues from the leases could fund repairs and upgrades for roads, bridges, tunnels and railroads along the corridors, according to a U.S. Department of Transportation proposal.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 28, 2026

10 best cities for work, according to a job search site

Indeed’s new report looks beyond salaries, highlighting how cities can balance wages and career opportunities with job access, flexibility and economic opportunity to attract workers.

By Stephanie Kanowitz • Aug. 26, 2026

NLC program offers AI to assist local governments with cybersecurity efforts

The National League of Cities is partnering with CyberAlliance to offer an AI-powered platform that provides risk assessments and guidance.

By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 24, 2026

125-mph passenger trains could connect San Antonio and Austin, Texas, in about an hour: HNTB study

The trains would run on a dedicated rail line and cost about $13.5 billion, according to a feasibility study commissioned by Travis County.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 21, 2026

As states move to cut property taxes, cities brace for fallout

Florida and Oklahoma voters could soon weigh major property tax cuts, and Iowa has capped local revenue growth. The reforms will squeeze local budgets, municipal leaders say.

By Vicky Uhland • Aug. 20, 2026

FEMA public safety grant policy challenged in city, county lawsuit

Four local governments sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over new requirements that would withhold $200 million in funding unless they verify voter citizenship and switch to paper ballots.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Aug. 19, 2026

Amtrak, cities and states get $5.3B in federal rail grants

Using funds from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Federal Railroad Administration awarded grants to 41 projects across 23 states.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 17, 2026

California high-speed rail project could run out of money by end of 2027, inspector general says

State infusions of $1 billion a year over 20 years won’t come fast enough to keep construction on track, the authority’s Office of Inspector General said.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 14, 2026

State preemption laws are changing the land use landscape

More than 500 state bills containing clauses preempting county land use authority were introduced across 40 states, a National Association of Counties analysis found.

By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 14, 2026

Commuter railroads scramble to meet 24% jump in liability insurance coverage requirements

Passenger railroads have until Sept. 4 to find new policies they can afford. If they can't, they may have to cease operating, an industry advocate warns.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 13, 2026

NYC luxury home tax moves ahead while courts review lawsuit

A Staten Island judge ordered a halt to the city’s rollout of a new “pied-à-terre” tax. The city’s appeal stayed the order.

By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 13, 2026

Online payments: 8 ways cities can make them easier and safer

Cities need to think beyond the payment portal to consider integration, security and user experience when implementing electronic payments, experts say.

By Vicky Uhland • Aug. 13, 2026

FTA grants $1.28B for Utah commuter rail

The 83-mile FrontRunner rail line connecting Ogden, Salt Lake City and Provo would get more trains and track, but federal funding questions could impact the project.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 12, 2026

Changes to HUD homelessness aid again blocked by court

The agency’s new criteria for access to $4 billion in funding for local governments to address homelessness failed to follow administrative procedures, a Rhode Island judge ruled.

By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 10, 2026

Cities need a new workforce strategy. Universities should be part of it.

Local governments facing labor shortages can build stronger talent pipelines and improve public services through deeper partnerships with higher education, a criminal justice professor says.

By Michael Birzer • Aug. 7, 2026

The American Dream has evolved. Cities need to catch up, a new report says.

Economic mobility depends on far more than income. Cities must also invest in health, jobs and community connection to help residents thrive, the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation found.

By Stephanie Kanowitz • Aug. 6, 2026

House sends stopgap funding bill to White House with less transportation funding

Public transit faces a 20% cut and passenger rail an 83% cut in the reconciliation bill, which funds the federal government until Dec. 11.

By Dan Zukowski • Updated Sept. 2, 2026

$20B in federal climate grants unblocked by appeals court

A divided court rejected the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt to reclaim Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants “based solely on a policy disagreement” with the Inflation Reduction Act. 

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 5, 2026