Center for Community Progress

06/23/2026

📣 The Supreme Court just issued an important decision in Pung v. Isabella County regarding property tax foreclosure and surplus proceeds.

The Court's ruling reinforced that former owners of property sold at tax sale are owned the difference, if any, between the sales price at auction and the unpaid taxes "at least when the sale is fairly conducted in light of the country's history of tax sales." The Court rejected the Pung family's argument that they were entitled to the difference between the property's "hypothetical fair market value" and the taxes owed.

Community Progress is reviewing the opinion now and will share more analysis soon about what this ruling means for communities dealing with vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties. Make sure you're subscribed to our email newsletter so you don't miss it!

https://communityprogress.org/newsletter-signup/

05/18/2026

In fall 2025, Revive and Restore Community Corporation, with the support of the Center for Community Progress, completed a property condition survey of 7,694 parcels in Jackson, Mississippi. Read what we found here!

How many properties in West Jackson are vacant and blighted? We conducted a neighborhood-wide property survey.

05/01/2026

Registration is open for RVP 2026! 🎉

The Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference — the only national gathering dedicated to turning vacant spaces into vibrant places — is coming to Pittsburgh, PA, September 22–25, 2026.

Learn from peers, explore real revitalization projects, and leave with strategies you can bring home to your community. Whether you're in local government, a land bank, or a community development nonprofit, RVP is your space to connect and build.

📍 David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh
📅 September 22–25, 2026
🔗 Register now at communityprogress.org/rvp26

04/22/2026

April is National Healthy Homes Month! Is your city's code enforcement program working as a health and housing tool, or just a method to address complaints? There's a difference, and it matters for residents. Curious how to close the gap? Talk to our technical assistance team to learn more:

Technical assistance for local governments struggling with vacant properties. Contact us for strategies and solutions to end systemic vacancy and property deterioration.

04/02/2026

Vacant and deteriorating properties don't have to define a small town's future.

Our very own Liz Kozub recently joined the Small Towns podcast with Rebecca Undem to talk about how communities can take action — no matter their size or resources.

The bottom line? Data, partnerships, and creative thinking can go a long way in helping small towns reclaim the spaces that shape their communities.

Give it a listen and share with someone working on these issues in their community!

Listen here:

Podcast Episode · The Growing Small Towns Show · March 17 · 56m

03/31/2026

Are you a land bank leader ready to share your expertise with the field? Applications for the Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program are due next week, April 3 at 5:00 PM ET. This program pairs seasoned leaders in the land banking field with emerging leaders who have been in their role for less than five years.

Submit your application today:
https://communityprogress.org/nlbn/nlbn-members/mentorship-program-application/