The Livable Communities Initiative rests on the principle that local communities know best and that the role of the Federal government is to support locally driven efforts to avoid sprawl and create more livable communities. The initiative defines four primary roles for the Federal government in developing livable communities: (1) expanding community choices by providing incentives; (2) expanding community choices by providing information; (3) being a good neighbor; and (4) building partnerships. The diverse local efforts share many common themes. They are locally driven, inclusive partnerships with a broad scope. They focus on creating resilient local economies based on smart growth. Some are regional in scale. They often are performance based and committed to traditional values such as cooperation, personal responsibility, equal opportunity, work, and stewardship. Specific actions of the initiative include revitalizing existing communities; improving the environment, public health, and quality of live; providing more transportation choices; and improving schools and making them centers of communities. Additional actions include expanding economic opportunity, increasing public safety and crime prevention, protecting farmland and open space, and becoming resistant to disaster. Case examples and photographs