Partnership for Sustainable Communities

In 2009, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined in a partnership to improve access to affordable housing, provide more transportation choices, and lower transportation costs while protecting the environment in communities nationwide.

The partnership developed a set of six livability principles and an agreement to guide the agencies' efforts to coordinate federal housing, transportation, and other infrastructure investments.

Over the past two years, the agencies have awarded over $2.5 billion in assistance to more than 200 communities in 48 states to help meet housing and transportation goals. This includes Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grants, Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grants, and Community Challenge Grants, as well as EPA technical assistance and brownfields grants.

For fiscal year 2011, the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program Grants (between $400,000 and $5 million) will be awarded to communities to "support metropolitan and multijurisdictional planning efforts that integrate housing, land use, economic workforce development, transportation, and infrastructure investments."

Communities that are in geographic areas that received Regional Planning Grant funds in FY2010 will not be eligible to apply for FY2011. However, communities that did not receive funding in FY2010 but were awarded preferred status are encouraged to apply.

Funding Availability for Sustainable Communities Grants

HUD announced the availability of $67 million for the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant program and $28.6 million for the Sustainable Communities Challenge Planning grant program for fiscal year 2011. Information on the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant program may be found here: http://1.usa.gov/rpRch3

Click here to download the Notice of Funding Availability for the pre-application process.

Pre-applications for the Regional Planning grants are due on August 25, 2011, and are required in order to participate in the final application process. Final applications are due on September 26, 2011.

Information on the Sustainable Communities Challenge Planning Grant program may be found here: http://1.usa.gov/qL1J9M

Advocate on Behalf of the Sustainable Communities Partnership

The APA 2011 Sustainable Communities Site Visit Toolkit provides information and tips on lending your voice to this important initiative. Advocate for the Partnership for Sustainable Communities by telling, and showing, your elected officials the value that coordinated and integrated regional planning in land use, transportation, and housing leads to better investments and communities of lasting value.

Download the toolkit (pdf)

Resources

The Partnership for Sustainable Communities

HUD Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities

HUD Advance Notice of Funding Availability

Webinar

Smart Growth America and the American Planning Association hosted a joint webinar on July 14, 2011, with tips to assist communities gather information and advice on applying for Partnership for Sustainable Communities grants.

Presenters included EPA staff involved in the application review process, a consultant from a firm that has written several successful applications, and successful applicants to discuss their strategies. Click on the links below for presentations and other webinar resources.