diff --git a/app/__init__.py b/app/__init__.py
index 9154cdae..a97b81e3 100644
--- a/app/__init__.py
+++ b/app/__init__.py
@@ -106,6 +106,11 @@ def create_app(config_class=Config):
     from app.tag import bp as tag_bp
     app.register_blueprint(tag_bp)
 
+    # make the dev tools page available if in dev mode
+    if app.config['MODE'] == 'development':
+        from app.dev import bp as dev_bp
+        app.register_blueprint(dev_bp)
+
     # send error reports via email
     if app.config['MAIL_SERVER'] and app.config['MAIL_ERRORS']:
         auth = None
diff --git a/app/dev/__init__.py b/app/dev/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9685833f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/dev/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+from flask import Blueprint
+
+bp = Blueprint('dev', __name__)
+
+from app.dev import routes
diff --git a/app/dev/forms.py b/app/dev/forms.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7fb9bedb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/dev/forms.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+from flask import request, g
+from flask_login import current_user
+from flask_wtf import FlaskForm
+from wtforms import StringField, SubmitField, TextAreaField, BooleanField, HiddenField, SelectField, FileField
+from wtforms.validators import ValidationError, DataRequired, Email, EqualTo, Length, Optional
+from flask_babel import _, lazy_gettext as _l
+
+from app import db
+
+
+class AddTestCommunities(FlaskForm):
+    submit = SubmitField(_l('Populate Communities for Testing'))
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/dev/routes.py b/app/dev/routes.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..690a3f0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/dev/routes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+from flask import request, flash, json, url_for, current_app, redirect, g, abort
+from flask_login import login_required, current_user
+from flask_babel import _
+from sqlalchemy import desc, or_, and_, text
+
+from app import db, celery
+from app.dev.forms import AddTestCommunities
+# from app.chat.forms import AddReply, ReportConversationForm
+# from app.chat.util import send_message
+from app.models import Site, User, Community
+# from app.user.forms import ReportUserForm
+from app.utils import render_template, moderating_communities, joined_communities, menu_topics
+from app.dev import bp
+
+
+# use this to populate communities in the database
+@bp.route('/dev/populate-communities', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
+@login_required
+def populate_communities():
+    form = AddTestCommunities()
+    if form.validate_on_submit():
+        flash(_('form sumbit button pressed'))
+        return redirect(url_for('dev.populate_communities'))
+    else:
+        return render_template('dev/populate_communities.html', form=form)
diff --git a/app/templates/dev/populate_communities.html b/app/templates/dev/populate_communities.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2a5c4ef1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/templates/dev/populate_communities.html
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+{% if theme() and file_exists('app/templates/themes/' + theme() + '/base.html') %}
+    {% extends 'themes/' + theme() + '/base.html' %}
+{% else %}
+    {% extends "base.html" %}
+{% endif %} %}
+<!-- {% set active_child = 'populate_testing_communities' %} -->
+{% from 'bootstrap/form.html' import render_form %}
+
+{% block app_content %}
+<div class="row">
+        <div class="col col-login mx-auto">
+            <div class="card mt-5">
+                <div class="card-body p-6">
+                    <div class="card-title">{{ _('Add Communities to DB for Testing') }}</div>
+                    <div class="card-body">
+                        {{ render_form(form) }}
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+{% endblock %}
\ No newline at end of file