Cape Coral Florida's Real Estate Guide

WASHINGTON - Jan. 11, 2012 - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it would release $110 million in grants to transform public and assisted housing and to revitalize communities. Florida cities may apply for funds under the FY 2012 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Program.

HUD made the announcement in yesterday's Federal Register.

"We make these funds available for communities that are serious about breathing new life into areas that have seen very little public investment over the years," said HUD Assistant Secretary Sandra Henriquez.

According to HUD, the Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants are intended to take community planning off the drawing board and put them into action. Choice Neighborhoods focuses on 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 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 receive the HUD grant, communities must have a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy or Transformation Plan in place. This Transformation Plan must guide the revitalization of public and/or assisted housing units, and simultaneously oversee a transformation of the surrounding neighborhood.

Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grants are available for public housing authorities, local governments, nonprofit organizations, tribal entities and for-profit developers that apply jointly with a public entity.

Last August, HUD awarded its first-ever Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grants, a combined $122 million, to stimulate neighborhood revitalization in Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco and Seattle.

Applicants have until April 10, 2012, to apply for FY 2012 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grants. HUD anticipates awarding four to five grants with a maximum award of $30,000,000 each in December 2012. Applicants must submit their applications electronically through www.grants.gov.

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