After over 12 years of serving the Wood River Valley, with great regret, Citizens for Smart Growth

will
sadly close its doors at the end of this month. Our Board of Directors and Staff have agreed the
organization is no longer financially sustainable.

The “smart growth” movement started in the 1990’s to prevent the environmental, social, and
economic consequences of poorly planned growth, often called sprawl. In 1997, a local group of
concerned citizens created Citizens for Smart Growth to promote smart growth principles throughout
Blaine County and empower citizens to get more involved in land use planning. Over the years, Smart
Growth’s core objectives have remained the same:

Encourage citizen and stakeholder participation in land use decisions

Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities
Create walkable, bicycle-friendly, and transit-oriented communities
Support a range of housing opportunities and choices
Make development decisions fair, predictable, and transparent
Foster attractive communities with a strong sense of place
Protect wildlife habitat, working farms and ranches, and outdoor recreation
Promote a strong and diverse local economy

One of the greatest challenges we faced as an organization—besides fundraising—was inspiring people

to get involved in local land-use planning. Public participation is crucial for shaping vibrant and
sustainable communities. Get involved in choosing your future!

We look to the people, nonprofit organizations, local governments, and other groups in Blaine County
to continue our vision for vibrant communities, consistent with the elements of smart growth. In past
economic downturns, property values in Blaine County have become stagnant only to rebound with a
fury. The need for vigilance and strong community advocacy has not diminished.

Please join us for our final event on Thursday, April 22, the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. We will be
showing the film "Tapped" at 6:00 pm at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey. This is a documentary about the
bottled water industry and its effects on our health, climate change, pollution, and our reliance on oil.
After the film, we'll facilitate a town hall style dialogue about water in the Wood River Valley.

Thank you for all your support over the years!

Respectfully,

Nathan Welch Kristen Olenick

Executive Director Director of Operations