ASC's Intersections Newsletter — October 24, 2025
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Nora’s Note
Next week I head to Washington, DC for the third Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Alumni Summit, the largest convening of small business owners in the US, to deliver a collective voice to Capitol Hill. It’s a high energy gathering with networking, classes, speakers, this year including Michael Bloomberg, Daymond John, Kelly Loeffler and more, and meetings with electeds about issues that directly affect small business, which employs half of US workers and generates 44% of the national GDP. The dauntless optimism of small business will be in the air, but so will a serious message from the more than 40,000 small businesses that have had essential federal certifications canceled—that's right, canceled—by the federal government. Those certifications gave us a seat at the procurement table alongside our big business counterparts. I’m looking forward to making some noise.
Transportation
Detroit is moving forward with plans for a new multimodal transportation hub next to the recently restored Michigan Central Station. This marks a major step toward improving Midwest mobility and economic growth. Backed by $40 million in combined state and federal funds, the project will connect Amtrak rail, intercity buses, and potentially future routes linking Chicago to Toronto. Learn more about how Detroit’s new hub fits into a national trend of cities investing in modern, interconnected transit systems. (Source: Smart Cities Dive)
Climate
A 1.3 miles stretch in Jackson Heights, Queens, has transitioned from a car dominated street to a vibrant community space in an ongoing trend of creating open streets in New York. While during the pandemic residents would put up daily barriers to create the space, it has since been funded with $90 million to establish the permanent Paseo Park. The space has become a vital part of Jackson Heights, which has the lowest ratio of parks to residents in the city. Read more, here. (Source: Happy Eco News)
Inside Climate News: Illinois wants climate education in schools. Now teachers need to figure out how to make it happen
Canary Media: Can crowdsourcing help solve the data center power crunch?
Grist: America’s biggest offshore wind farm will be online in 6 montund
Economic Development
Massachusetts’ proposed expansion of its organics disposal ban could reshape the state’s waste-diversion landscape, building on the MassDEP’s documented success in reducing landfill-bound food waste. By extending requirements to more commercial and possibly residential generators, the policy encourages new investment in composting and anaerobic digestion. Experts note that lessons from Massachusetts’ earlier initiatives and the state’s standing as the nation’s only successful food-waste ban demonstrate how environmental regulation can also drive economic growth. Read more about the proposed expansion here. (Source: Waste Dive)
Affordable Housing Finance: Matching loan fund to help NYC nonprofits develop housing
Hoodline: Jacksonville’s McCoys Creek revitalization project set to reduce flooding and enhance local ecology
Mass Transit Magazine: PANYNJ breaks ground on new automated people mover at Newark Liberty International Airport
Digital
Communities at high risk of wildfires are increasingly leveraging technology to strengthen emergency communication — and it matters now more than ever. In Sonoma County, California, responders who struggled with outdated systems during the 2017 Tubbs Fire are now using AI-driven geospatial platforms to model evacuation‑routes and coordinate across agencies. They also highlight the importance of keeping community members in the loop for final decisions. Read more on how local and state governments are building resilient wildfire communications that go beyond alerts. (Source: Route Fifty)
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