Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants
The Transformation Plan should integrate effective strategies to implement public and/or assisted housing revitalization, the coordination and design of supportive services, including
The Transformation Plan should be created as part of a collaborative planning process that involves neighborhood stakeholders and local governmental entities to build the necessary support to successfully implement the plan.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development's mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. HUD fulfills this mission through high ethical standards, management and accountability, and by forming partnerships with community organizations.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2012: N/A. Fiscal Year 2013: HUD plans to award 30 Planning Grants. Fiscal Year 2014: HUD plans to award 20 Planning Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants will fund the creation of Transformation plans that are intended to become the guiding document for the revitalization of the public and/or assisted housing units while simultaneously directing the transformation of the surrounding neighborhood and outlining the steps necessary to create positive outcomes for families within the targeted neighborhood.
Refer to NOFA.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants will support the development of comprehensive neighborhood Transformation Plans.
The Transformation Plan should integrate effective strategies to implement public and/or assisted housing revitalization, the coordination and design of supportive services, including educational opportunities for children, and neighborhood-level planning to improve a range of neighborhood assets.
The Transformation Plan should be created as part of a collaborative planning process that involves neighborhood stakeholders and local governmental entities to build the necessary support to successfully implement the plan.
Beneficiary Eligibility
For Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants, the ultimate beneficiaries are residents of the severely distressed public and/or assisted housing unit and residents of the surrounding community these grants aim to engage in the creation of the community drafted Transformation Plan.
Credentials/Documentation
Eligibility requirements to apply for Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants are included in the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.
12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedures
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program.
Award Procedures
HUD will issue a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), as provided by annual appropriations, via the Grants.gov website. HUD headquarters will coordinate reviews of each eligible application for threshold compliance, assigns rating points to applications that pass all thresholds, and the highest rated applications are notified that they have been selected to participate in the Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant program.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Authorization
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010, Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012, Public Law 111-111-117.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 90 to 120 days. Refer to each Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for application deadlines.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching Requirements: Percent: 5.%. This program has no statutory formula. Matching Requirements: Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants will leverage funds from state, local or private sources as well as other HUD and Federal programs. HUD is required by section 24(c)(1)(A) of the 1937 Act (42 U.S.C. 1437v(c)(1)(A)) to include the requirement for matching funds for all HOPE VI-related grants, which includes Choice Neighborhoods. Applicants are required to have matching funds in the amount of five percent of the requested grant amount in cash or in-kind donations.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
24 months from grant execution. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Grantees are required to submit quarterly reports to HUD that will track Grantee progress against approved budgets and schedules.
No cash reports are required.
Grantees are required to submit quarterly reports to HUD that will track Grantee progress against approved budgets and schedules.
No expenditure reports are required.
No performance monitoring is required.
Audits
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. Grants are audited in conjunction with regular HUD or independent public accountant audits in accordance with 24 CFR 85.26, and after grant close-out.
Records
Grantees are required to maintain copies of budgets and other cost records through the grant period to indicate compliance with the Grant Agreement.
Financial Information
Account Identification
86-0218-0-1-604; 86-0349-0-1-604.
Obigations
(Project Grants) FY 12 $0; FY 13 est $10,000,000; and FY 14 est $10,000,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
N/A.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
No regulations have been published. Each grant is subject to the terms of its NOFA and Grant Agreement, which is the contract signed by the Grantee and HUD. HUD posts guidance to the Choice Neighborhoods website, www.hud.gov/cn.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Caroline Clayton, 451 7th Street S.W. Room 4130, Washington , District of Columbia 20410 Email: choiceneigborhoods@hud.gov Phone: (202) 402-5461.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not Applicable.
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