Capacity Building Grants for Sustainable Communities Program

New funding opportunity from HUD seeks to strengthen the capacity of Sustainable Communities grantees to create more housing choices, make transportation more affordable and support vibrant and healthy neighborhoods for families. The Capacity Building for Sustainable Communities grant program will competitively award $5.65 million to capacity-building service providers (intermediary organizations) who will work directly with recipients from the following programs: FY2010 and FY 2011 HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning and Community Challenge, HUD Preferred Sustainability Status Communities, EPA Sustainable Community Technical Assistance and Brownfield Area Wide Planning grant programs. Award recipients will help to build a national coalition and leadership network of existing and future grantees that will exchange ideas on successful strategies, lessons learned, emerging tools, and public engagement plans. HUD will work closely with selected intermediaries to develop a robust evaluation component for the network.

Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in providing assistance in one or more of the following outcome areas:

• Developing effective implementation strategies for economic development and local and regional planning
• Advancing social equity in planning, participation, and decision-making; 
• Strengthening sustainability practices for tribes, small towns, and rural places
• Scenario planning
• Incorporating water infrastructure planning and investments into local and regional planning efforts
• Addressing sustainability in slow local and regional economies
• Establishing a national sustainability learning network

Eligible applicants for this exciting funding opportunity include for-profit organizations, non-profit organizations, local or state public agencies, and nationally recognized and accredited Universities or Colleges. Any combination of the aforementioned entities can also form a Capacity Building Team, which must designate a lead agency. Non-profit organizations that have experience providing Technical Assistance are encouraged to apply. The application due date is July 8, 2011.