The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced $6.5 million in Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants for 13 communities in 11 states across America to redevelop severely distressed public housing or HUD-assisted housing, improve outcomes for residents, and bring new amenities to high-poverty neighborhoods.
Each selected community, including the first-ever Tribal Nation to receive a Choice Neighborhoods, will receive a $500,000 grant to create a comprehensive neighborhood “Transformation Plan,” a comprehensive strategy to modernize existing HUD housing, improve workforce, health and education outcomes for residents and attract long-term public and private reinvestment to promote economic development.
Community and economic development projects have great potential to build community wealth and strong local economies and support long-time residents and businesses. The HUD-Assisted Housing announcement advances these efforts and supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals to create equitable economic opportunities for local communities and provide residents of underserved communities access to safe, quality and affordable housing.
“HUD is committed to investing in communities, lowering housing costs and increasing safe and affordable housing supply across the country,” said HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. “Choice Neighborhoods not only empowers neighborhood redevelopment but offers families and individuals the opportunity to thrive in their communities.”
HUD understands that broad civic engagement is needed to successfully develop and implement a Transformation Plan. This includes gathering and leveraging financial and human capital resources needed to support the vitality and sustainability of the plan. Funds provided to awardees will allow communities to boost support and strengthen actions to help build and maintain momentum for change.
“These Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants represent a special opportunity to bring together residents and stakeholders to address decades of disinvestment that have left their communities behind,” said Rich Monocchio, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing. “Our exemplary Choice Neighborhoods team will work closely with these communities throughout the planning process as they think through how they’ll preserve the historic legacy and character of their neighborhood and how they can leverage those strengths to build a plan for a brighter future.”
Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants announced have been awarded to the following recipients:
- Birmingham Alabama, Housing Authority of the Birmingham District Lead Recipient / Co-Recipient Kingston / Woodlawn
- Phoenix Arizona, City of Phoenix Lead Recipient / Co-Recipient Marcos de Niza / Grant Park
- Tucson Arizona, City of Tucson Lead Recipient / Co-Recipient City of Tucson 29th Street Thrive Zone
- Oxnard California, Oxnard Housing Authority / City of Oxnard Lead Recipient / Co-Recipient La Colonia / Central Oxnard
- Woodland California, Housing Authority of the County of Yolo Lead Recipient / Co-Recipient Yolano Village / Donnelly
- Miami Florida, Miami-Dade County Lead Recipient / Co-Recipient Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Station
- Joliet Illinois, City of Joliet / Housing Authority of Joliet Lead Recipient / Co-Recipient Bicentennial Bluffs
- Detroit Michigan, City of Detroit / Detroit Housing Commission Lead Recipient / Co-Recipient Greater Forest Park / Eastern Market
- Poughkeepsie New York, City of Poughkeepsie Lead Recipient / Co-Recipient Northside
- Okmulgee Oklahoma, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lead Recipient / Co-Recipient College Heights
- Johnstown Pennsylvania, Johnstown Housing Authority / Cambria County Planning Commission Lead Recipient / Co-Recipient West End
- Houston Texas, Houston Housing Authority / City of Houston Lead Recipient / Co-Recipient Near Northside
- Bristol Virginia, Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority Lead Recipient / Co-Recipient Virginia Hills
Since 2010, the Choice Neighborhoods program has been a critical tool to preserve and expand the supply of affordable housing in America and has spurred growth in nearly 60 cities by adding new mixed-income units, businesses, parks, and grocery stores. Given the program’s transformative reach, HUD continues to encourage eligible communities of all sizes to pursue a Choice Neighborhoods grant.
