policy brief

Policy Brief: Your Next Steps on HUD’s Sustainable Communities Program

ICLEI is preparing local governments for the upcoming $100M in funding for HUD’s new Sustainable Communities Planning Grants Program. HUD is currently gathering information by seeking comments on the structure of this program.

Get Our Policy Brief

Our latest policy brief provides the following information to local governments and regional planning entities:
1.    An overview of the new Sustainable Communities Initiative
2.    Information surrounding the associated grant opportunity with key questions
3.    Links for more detailed information

Action Item: Submit Your Comments

ICLEI will be submitting comments on behalf of ICLEI membership to HUD. ICLEI Members can submit comments and questions to ICLEI by email to:
Art von Lehe at art.vonlehe@iclei.org. The comment period closes March 12, 2010.

• Comments must be submitted by March 12, 2010 electronically at sustainablecommunities@hud.gov or
• http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/program_offices/sustainable_housing_communities/grant_program

ICLEI members are already drafting comments for HUD and working to identify grant application partners. Since the grant program will be regional in nature, local governments should start working with regional planning entities to forge partnerships. To locate your regional planning entity, please follow this link.  The grant application period is expected to begin the week of April 12, 2010.

Webinar Coming Soon

ICLEI USA will be soon be announcing a webinar to discuss the details of the comment phase and to gather information from members. ICLEI will additionally provide a webinar during the actual grant application period. Stay tuned for more details.

HUD Grant Program Timeline

• February 16 – March 1, 2010—Regional Listening Sessions (more information available at www.hud.gov/sustainability)
• Week of March 1, 2010 - Webcasts by Sustainable Communities Initiative agencies
• March 12, 2010 - Comments on Sustainable Communities Planning Grants Program due
• Week of April 12, 2010 - Notice of Funding Availability published
• June 5, 2010 (approximate) - Grant applications due to HUD
• August 2, 2010 (approximate) - Announcement of Grant awardees