Revitalized Communities, LLC - Building Better Communities

ALIGN framework linking government policy and community insight for successful redevelopment.

The ALIGN Development Partnership Framework

ALIGN is a practical, repeatable predevelopment framework that local government and planning organizations can add to their development toolbox.

It prepares staff to identify community priorities, integrate those priorities into project planning, guide stakeholders toward shared expectations, and support implementation after agreements are reached.

Revitalized Communities trains municipal teams to use ALIGN independently and provides coaching or implementation support when additional assistance is needed.

Align is Designed to Build Development, Team Capacity—Not Permanent Consultant Dependency.

ALIGN Partnership Framework

How ALIGN Supports Staff's Capability

Assess

Staff learns to evaluate project conditions, community context, stakeholders, readiness, risks, and existing plans before engagement begins.

Listen

Staff learns how to develop and ask effective questions, conduct small group listening activities, and clearly communicate what they hear.

Integrate

Staff learns how to translate community insight into feasible project priorities, community benefits, design considerations, policies, and implementation strategies.

Guide

Staff learns how to facilitate conversations among municipal leaders, residents, developers, and other stakeholders and move the parties toward clear commitments. They also learn how to determine if outside facilitators are needed.

Nurture

Staff learn how to support implementation, accountability, community capacity, and long-term stewardship after an agreement is completed. Community Prosperity Institute may provide optional community capacity training and stewardship support (see Ecosystem page for more information on Community Prosperity Institute).

The Primary ALIGN Deliverable:

The ALIGN process can culminate in a Community Partnership Agreement that records agreed priorities, roles, commitments, benefits, implementation responsibilities, and accountability measures.

Development staff are trained to guide the development of this agreement. Revitalized Communities can provide templates, coaching, facilitation, drafting assistance, or full support depending on the municipality’s needs.

We strongly recommend that community reps are offered their own training to implement and manage the negotiated benefits. This service is offered by our sister non-profit, Community Prosperity Institute (CPI).

Choose the Right Level of Support

Learn the Framework

Best for municipalities that have experienced staff and want a repeatable internal process.

Includes:

ALIGN Foundations Workshop
ALIGN Staff Training
Tools, templates, and exercises
Internal implementation planning

Learn and Apply

Best for municipalities that want training followed by guidance on an initial project.

Includes:

Staff training
First-project coaching
Review of staff-developed materials
Scheduled advisory sessions
Troubleshooting and implementation guidance

Supported Implementation

Best for municipalities that have limited staff capacity or need help with selected stages.

May include:

Interviews
Community engagement
Benefit development
Design integration
Facilitation
Negotiation
Agreement drafting
Implementation planning
Community Capacity Building Training

Full-Service Project Support

Best for small municipalities, understaffed departments, or unusually complex projects.

Revitalized Communities may lead most or all of the ALIGN process while involving municipal staff so that the engagement also builds internal knowledge.