America's history is a testament to the unique joys of living in small communities like the neighborly connection and sense of community often missing in larger metropolitan areas. Across the country, community leaders are joining together to bring new life back to small towns. They are doing it by focusing on smart growth that highlights the existing assets of a community — its history, culture and landscape — or by creating a new source of vitality, such as by encouraging artists to flourish or by undertaking creative placemaking.