Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants, Deadline Aug. 8

Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants will support the development of comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans which will transform these communities into viable, mixed-income neighborhoods by linking housing improvements with appropriate services, schools, public assets, transportation, and access to jobs. The program is focused on directing resources to address three core goals � housing, people and neighborhoods. To achieve these core goals, communities must develop and implement a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy, or 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 for families.

Choice Neighborhoods eligible applicants are Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), local governments, nonprofits, and for-profit developers that apply jointly with a public entity.  Tribal housing agencies, tribally designated housing entities, and individuals are not eligible to apply.

Eligible neighborhoods for Choice Neighborhoods grant funds include neighborhoods with
(1) at least 20 percent of the households estimated to be in poverty or have extremely low incomes and
(2) that are experiencing distress related to one or more of the following:
(a) high crime; defined as where either the Part I violent crime rate (measured as Part I crimes per 1000 persons) over the past three years (2008-2010) is at least 1.5 times the per capita Part I violent crime rate (measured as Part I crimes per 1000 persons) of the city or, where no city data is available, county/parish in which the neighborhood is located over the same time frame; or the rate is greater than 18 crimes per 1000 persons; OR
(b) high vacancy or substandard homes; defined as where either the most current rate within the last year of long-term vacant or substandard homes is at least 1.5 times higher than that of the city or, where no city data is available, county/parish as a whole; or the rate is greater than 4 percent; OR
(c) inadequate schools; defined as where either a low-performing public school or a persistently lowest-achieving public school is in the neighborhood or at least 20 percent of the children from the target public and/or HUD-assisted housing attend such a school.
B. Match Requirements
1. Choice Neighborhoods Grant Match. HUD is required by section 24(c)(1)(A) of the 1937 Act (42 U.S.C. 1437v(c)(1)(A)) to include the requirement for matching funds for all HOPE VI-related grants, which includes Choice Neighborhoods. You are required to have matching funds in the amount of five percent of the requested grant amount in cash or in-kind donations. Applications that do not demonstrate the minimum five percent match will not be considered for funding.

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Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants, Deadline Aug. 8

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