A sharp drop in dontations has prompted Smartgrowth BC to merge with the Canadian Green Building Council (CGBC). Smartgrowth BC advocated sustainable land development policies and practices, compact communities, sustainable transportation, affordable housing, green space and farmland preservation and efficient ingrastructure use.
The Organization launched in 2001 and grew to 12 staff in the fall of 2008, just as the economic downturn took hold. It shed eight of those staff when funding dried up.
"We were totally dependent on financial support from foundations and donors - individual donors, corporate donors and foundations," former Smartgrowth BC president and director Bob Ransford told Business in Vancouver. "All those streams were impacted during the economic downturn."
About 85% of Smartgrowth BC's budget was spent on programs. During the boom years, it launched plenty of new new programs and initiatives and was easily able to secure funding. Ransford said it was hard to maintain after Smartgrowth BC started to grow. Two of Smartgrowth BC's four employees have found other jobs, and it's unclear whether any will join the CGBC.
- Article from the Business in Vancouver newspaper, May 12th, 2010