CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE -- PLANNING GRANTS

Grant: Choice Neighborhoods Initiative – Planning Grants
Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Division: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing and Office of Multifamily Housing Programs
Deadline: The deadline was May 28, 2013.

Description: The Choice Neighborhoods program employs a comprehensive approach to community development centered on housing transformation. The program aims to transform neighborhoods of poverty into viable mixed-income neighborhoods with access to economic opportunities by revitalizing severely distressed public and assisted housing. Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants will support the development of comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans which, when implemented, may be expected to achieve the following three core goals:

• Housing: Transform distressed public and assisted housing into energy efficient, mixed-income housing that is physically and financially viable over the long-term.
• People: Support positive outcomes for families who live in the target development(s) and the surrounding neighborhood, particularly outcomes related to residents' health, safety, employment, mobility and education.
• Neighborhood: Transform distressed, high-poverty neighborhoods into viable, mixed-income neighborhoods with access to well-functioning services, high quality public schools and education programs, high quality early learning programs and services, public assets, public transportation and improved access to jobs.

To achieve these core goals, communities must develop and implement a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy, a Transformation Plan. The Transformation Plan will become the guiding document for the revitalization of the public and/or assisted housing units, while simultaneously directing the transformation of the surrounding neighborhood and positive outcomes.

In order to develop a comprehensive Transformation Plan, applicants may undertake some of the following activities:

• Conduct comprehensive needs assessments.
• Undertake a comprehensive and integrated planning process that addresses the challenges and gaps in services and assets identified through the needs assessments.
• Conduct technical planning studies concerning local development issues, priorities or suggested appropriate approaches in the context of the local housing market relative to other alternatives.
• Work with public and private agencies, organizations and individuals.
• Ensure meaningful resident, community and stakeholder participation throughout the development of the Transformation Plan.
• Plan for the collection and strategic use of relevant data by identifying data to track future community impacts once the Transformation Plan is implemented.
• Identify and secure the involvement of effective practices and actors based on the best available evidence.

Fit for public broadcasting: Although local stations are eligible to apply to this program, they may actually be better as partners. HUD has stated that the cornerstone of a successful neighborhood transformation initiative will be the strength of the community partnerships involved in implementing the vision. Public media stations can play an important role in transforming neighborhoods – their expertise in educational services and job training can help to improve a neighborhood's access to education and jobs for its residents – and will therefore be valuable partners. In the application review process, applicants will receive points for providing a detailed strategy for planning the education component of their Transformation Plan. HUD has emphasized early learning programs and services, as well as high quality public schools and education programs.

Public media stations interested in collaborating on a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants application should connect with local housing authorities and other community-based organizations. This HUD initiative is intended to improve communities and therefore requires collaboration and planning among various groups. To get an idea of what types of organizations were awarded grants in 2012, see the summaries of 2012 awardees here.

Eligibility: Eligible applicants for Choice Neighborhoods grants are Public Housing Authorities, local governments, nonprofits and for-profit developers that apply jointly with a public entity. Each application must focus on the revitalization of at least one severely distressed public and/or HUD-assisted housing project. Eligible neighborhoods for Choice Neighborhoods grant funds include neighborhoods with at least 20 percent of the households estimated to be in poverty or have extremely low incomes and that are experiencing distress related to high crime, high vacancy or inadequate schools.

Anticipated funding: HUD had requested $150 million for the entire Choice Neighborhood, of which approximately 10 percent will be used for Planning Grants. Because the FY2013 full-year funding has not been appropriated for this program, the availability of any such funding for this program is contingent upon future Congressional action. HUD will issue a public notice identifying the amount of funds available once that information is known.

The maximum grant request is $500,000, and the term of each Planning Grant must be up to two years. Matching funds in the amount of five percent of the requested grant amount are required.

How to apply: Applications can be obtained and must be submitted electronically on Grants.gov. Online submission requires registration, a process that usually takes three to five business days but can take as long as four weeks. Be sure to visit Grants.gov and begin registering well in advance of the deadline.

Resources:
Program Notice
Program Website
FY 2012 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant Awardees
Presentation Materials from the HUD webcast Choice Neighborhoods Current & Future Competitions