HUD Announces $67M for Sustainable Regional Planning Grants

U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan recently announced that $67 million will be available for a second round of the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant program. These grants support planning efforts that help create sustainable communities that "connect housing to jobs while fostering local innovation and building a clean energy economy." While many of the program's goals are centered on increasing housing and transportation options, HUD also intends the grants to contribute to regional economic development plans that take into account current and emerging economic clusters.

HUD plans to make awards in two categories: one to support communities in the initial development of a regional plan, and another for communities to fine-tune their existing plan. Applicants in the latter category may apply to help to bring their regional plans in accordance with the six "livability principles" established by HUD's Partnership for Sustainable Communities. These principles include:

• Providing more transportation choices;
• Providing equitable, affordable housing;
• Enhancing economic competitiveness;
• Supporting existing communities;
• Coordinating and leveraging investment; and,
• Valuing communities and neighborhoods.

Awards sizes will vary by regional population. As was the case last year, $25 million will be reserved for grants to areas with populations less than 500,000. Grants will be awarded competitively to multi-jurisdictional and multi-sector partnerships, as well as regional consortia consisting of local and state governments, metropolitan planning organizations, educational institutions, nonprofits, and philanthropic organizations.

In order to compete for these awards, regions must describe how their effort will bring these organizations together to achieve all six of the partnership's livability goals. This includes planning for economic development activities. The program's advance notice (http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/sustainable_ho…) outlines the variety of programmatic goals that meet the program's economic development requirement. Highlights of interest to the TBED community include:

• creation or expansion of existing commercial and industrial centers;
• utilization of structures for new economic development ventures;
• creation of small business incubators;
• creating economic development strategies to improve the global economic competitiveness of a region;
• innovative project financing;
• training to support the full range of workforce and worker needs in the region; and,
• supporting other local, state and federal programs that strengthen regional economies, industry clusters and job creation.

Read the announcement at: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2011/HUDNo.11-127