CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS - IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS

Grant: Choice Neighborhoods - Implementation Grants
Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Deadline: September 10, 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. The program also works towards investing and leveraging investments in well-functioning services, effective schools and education programs, public assets, public transportation and improved access to jobs. Choice Neighborhoods has three core goals:

• Housing: Replace distressed public and assisted housing with high-quality mixed-income housing that is well-managed and responsive to the needs of the surrounding neighborhood. 
• People: Improve educational outcomes and intergenerational mobility for youth with services and supports delivered directly to youth and their families. 
• Neighborhood: Create the conditions necessary for public and private reinvestment in distressed neighborhoods to offer the kinds of amenities and assets, including safety, good schools and commercial activity that are important to families' choices about their community. 

To achieve these core goals, communities must develop a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy, or Transformation Plan, that addresses the following key neighborhood assets:

• Developmental assets that allow residents to attain the skills needed to be successful in all aspects of daily life, including educational institutions, early learning centers and health resources.
• Commercial assets that are associated with production, employment, transactions and sales.
• Recreational assets that create value in a neighborhood beyond work and education, including parks, open space, arts organizations, restaurants, movie theaters and athletics.
• Physical assets that are associated with the built environment and physical infrastructure of a neighborhood.
• Social/intangible assets that establish well-functioning social interactions, including public safety and community engagement.

This notice requests proposals as part of the Implementation program. Implementation program grants support those communities that have undergone a comprehensive local planning process and are now moving forward with their "Transformative Plan" to redevelop the neighborhood.

Fit for public broadcasting: Although local stations are eligible to be lead applicants for 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. Applicants that have strong and effective partnerships will be more competitive in the selection process. Specifically, HUD encourages partnerships that will improve a neighborhood's educational outcomes and job training opportunities. The grant specifically encourages activities that promote sustainable neighborhoods and critically improve a neighborhood's livability. Arts organizations can play an important role in improving both the livability and economic stability of a neighborhood.

Because public broadcasting stations have expertise in education, job training and the arts, they will make ideal partners for this grant. Local stations are firmly rooted in their communities, and their partnership will be valuable for local governments that want to apply for this grant. Proposals will be evaluated based on their capacity in the three core areas: Housing, People and Neighborhood. Public broadcasting stations will be able to best contribute to the Neighborhood area, by providing educational and arts-related opportunities that enhance a community's livability.

Eligibility: Eligible applicants include local governments, public housing authorities, nonprofits and for-profit developers that apply jointly with a public entity.

Eligible neighborhoods for a Choice Neighborhoods grant include neighborhoods in which at least 20 percent of residents are estimated to be in poverty or are experiencing distress due to violent crime rates, vacant or substandard homes or low-performing public schools. Neighborhoods are also eligible if they have severely distressed public and/or HUD-assisted housing.

Anticipated funding: There is $113.7 million available for the FY 2013 Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. HUD plans to award approximately $109 million in Implementation Grants, with an individual grant maximum of $30 million. HUD estimates that there will be approximately four Implementation Grant awards.

Choice Neighborhoods applicants must demonstrate an irrevocably committed match of funds from other sources of at least five percent of the Choice Neighborhoods grant amount.

How to apply: Applications 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
HUD's Six Livability Principles
The 2012 Implementation Grant awardees