Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program
The Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program (Program) supports metropolitan and multijurisdictional planning efforts that integrate housing, land use, economic and workforce development, transportation, and infrastructure investments in a manner that empowers jurisdictions to consider the interdependent challenges of: (1) economic competitiveness and revitalization; (2) social equity, inclusion, and access to opportunity; (3) energy use and climate change; and (4) public health and environmental impact. The Program places a priority on investing in partnerships, including nontraditional partnerships (e.g., arts and culture, recreation, public health, food systems, regional planning agencies and public education entities) that translate the Livability Principles (Section I.C.1) into strategies that direct long-term development and reinvestment, demonstrate a commitment to addressing issues of regional significance, use data to set and monitor progress toward performance goals, and engage stakeholders and residents in meaningful decision-making roles.
Funding from this Program will support the development and implementation of Regional Plans for Sustainable Development (RPSD) that:
a. Identify affordable housing, transportation, water infrastructure, economic development, land use planning, environmental conservation, energy systems, open space, and other infrastructure priorities for the region;
b. Clearly define a single, integrated plan for regional development that addresses potential population growth or decline over a minimum 20-year time frame, sets appropriate 3- to 5-year benchmark performance targets, and delineates strategies to meet established performance goals;
c. Establish performance goals and measures that are, at a minimum, consistent with the Sustainability Partnership’s Livability Principles;
d. Use geo-coded data sets and other metrics in developing, implementing, monitoring, and assessing the performance goals of various reinvestment scenarios;
e. Provide detailed plans, maps, policies, and implementation strategies to be adopted by all participating jurisdictions over time to meet planning goals;
f. Prioritize projects that facilitate the implementation of the regional plan and identify responsible implementing entities (public, nonprofit, or private) and funding sources;
g. Show how the proposed plan will establish consistency with HUD, Department of Transportation (DOT), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs and policies, such as Consolidated Plans, Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, Long Range Transportation Plans, Indian Housing Plans, and Asset Management Plans, including strategies to modify existing plans, where appropriate; and
h. Engage residents and other stakeholders substantively and meaningfully in the development of the shared vision and its implementation early and throughout the process, including communities traditionally marginalized from such processes, while accommodating limited English speakers, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.
Office: Office of Sustainable Housing and Community
a. Identify affordable housing, transportation investment, water infrastructure, economic development, land use planning, environmental conservation, energy systems, open space, and other infrastructure priorities for the region;
b. Clearly define a single, integrated plan for regional development that addresses potential population growth or decline over a minimum 20-year timeframe;
c. Establish performance goals and measures that are, at a minimum, consistent with the Sustainability Partnership’s Livability Principles;
d. Prioritize projects that facilitate the implementation of the regional plan and identify responsible implementing entities (public, non-profit, or private) and funding sources;
g. Show how the proposed plan will establish consistency with HUD, DOT, and EPA programs, and policies, such as Consolidated Plans, Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, Long Range Transportation Plans, and Asset Management Plans, including strategies to modify existing plans where appropriate; and
h. Engage residents and stakeholders substantively and meaningfully in the development of the shared vision and its implementation early and throughout the process, including communities traditionally marginalized from such processes, while accommodating limited English speakers, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.
Matching Requirements: Percent: 20.%. Applicants must provide 20 percent of the requested funding amount in match in the form of cash and/or verified in-kind contributions or a combination of these sources. In-kind contributions may be in the form of staff time, donated materials, or services.
All contributions provided to meet this requirement must be identified in the application by their dollar equivalent based upon accepted salary or regional dollar values. Cash contributions may come from any combination of local, state, and/or private and philanthropic contributions dedicated to the express purposes of the proposal. Applicants will receive credit for leveraging resources greater than the 20 percent required match amount. If an applicant does not include the minimum 20 percent match with appropriate supporting documentation, that application will be considered ineligible. Federal funds are not eligible as match unless otherwise permitted in their authorizing statutes (e.g., Community Development Block Grant funds (CDBG) can be used as match). Applicants submitting multiple applications for different projects must secure independent matching funds for each proposal submitted. Note that applicants may not submit multiple applications for the same project.
For all matched or leveraged resources, the applicant must support each source of contributions, cash or in-kind, both for the required match and additional leverage amounts, by a letter of commitment from the contributing entity, whether a public or private source. Such supporting documentation must be provided in the form of 1) letters of firm commitment, 2) memorandums of understanding, or 3) other signed agreements to contribute from those entities identified as partners in your application. Each letter of commitment, memorandum of understanding, or agreement to participate should include the organization's name, the proposed level and type of commitment, and the responsibilities as they relate to your proposed program. The commitment must be signed and dated by an official of the organization legally able to make commitments on behalf of the organization. If the applicant does not provide letters from contributors specifying details and the amount of the actual contributions, those contributions will not be counted.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Room 10180, Washington, District of Columbia 20410 Email: Dwayne.S.Marsh@hud.gov Phone: (202) 402-6316 Fax: (202) 708-0465
