Center for Community Progress

10/13/2026

That's a wrap on RVP 2026! Last month we welcomed 800 local leaders from local governments, land banks, nonprofits, philanthropy, and community organizations to Pittsburgh for four days of learning and sharing revitalization solutions with their peers. Together, you got your hands dirty helping clear out a vacant property in our service project, saw revitalized sites on mobile tours, and participated in dozens of learning sessions covering every part of the property revitalization cycle. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the sponsors, speakers, and local host committee who helped make this conference a true homecoming and celebration of nearly two decades of the field.

09/20/2026

Meet our partners and exhibitors at RVP26 this week! 🤝

A huge thank you to the partners and exhibitors joining us in Pittsburgh next week. These organizations are supporting the community revitalization field by providing, data, technology, finance, legal support, and other solutions to help reclaim vacant spaces. We’re grateful for their commitment to the cause and for their ongoing partnership.

Be sure to stop by the Community Showcase on the third floor of the convention center to connect with them, learn about their work, and see the tools and resources they bring to this field.

09/15/2026

RVP26 wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our partners. As we prepare to bring hundreds of leaders back to Pittsburgh for the Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference, we’re so grateful to the organizations who share our commitment to transforming vacant spaces into vibrant places.

Thank you to our Allegheny Catalyst, Pittsburgh Community Champion, and Keystone Trailblazer level partners! Your partnership supports a network of practitioners committed to strengthening local economies and building stronger, healthier, more just communities. We can’t wait to see you in Pittsburgh in a few weeks!

September 15th is your last day to register. Get your ticket now! https://communityprogress.org/rvp26/

09/11/2026

As the Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference (RVP) marks nearly 20 years of bringing community leaders together to tackle vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties, we asked one of our longtime partners about how the field (and the philanthropy supporting it) has evolved. In this interview with Sarah Bainton Kahn, Head of Housing Access and Affordability Philanthropy at Wells Fargo and Company, we asked what’s changed in community revitalization and what she hopes attendees take away from RVP 2026 in Pittsburgh.

We thank Wells Fargo for their support of this conference--and for supporting the community revitalization field!
https://communityprogress.org/blog/wells-fargo-rvp26/

08/10/2026

Vacant properties are opportunities for your community to create a brighter future.

RVP 2026 is the place to be this September. Join 1,000+ public and private sector leaders, planners, and grassroots advocates in Pittsburgh for the only national conference dedicated to turning vacant spaces into vibrant places.

Don't wait! Register now at communityprogress.org/rvp26

07/13/2026

Heading to the Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference? Don't miss this one.

Our President & CEO is leading a Fundraising Masterclass designed for local leaders who are ready to stop dreading the ask and start building the relationships that fuel long-term impact. What you’ll learn:

- Reframe fundraising as relationship-building

- Master the full donor cultivation cycle

- Learn how to get your foot in the door with funders

- Know how to handle a "no" without losing the relationship



Pre-registration is required and spots are limited, register today! https://communityprogress.org/rvp26/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin.com&utm_campaign=RVP%20Conference

07/08/2026

Early bird registration for RVP 2026 ends July 17th.

If you've been meaning to register, this is your sign. Lock in the lowest rate before the deadline and join 1,000+ community revitalization leaders in Pittsburgh this September.

RVP 2026 is the only national conference dedicated to reclaiming vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties. Don't pay more than you have to.

📅 Early bird deadline: July 17th
📍 Pittsburgh, PA | Sept 22–25, 2026

👉 Register now: https://communityprogress.org/rvp26/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin.com&utm_campaign=RVP%20Conference

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 owed 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