Stronger Communities
Restoring vibrant communities with more transportation and housing choices
Sustainable Communities Initiative
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is launching a $100 million Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant program, designed to create stronger, more sustainable communities by connecting housing to jobs, fostering local innovation and building a clean energy economy. The Regional Planning grants will be awarded competitively to multi-jurisdictional and multi-sector partnerships as well as regional consortia consisting of state and local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and philanthropic organizations. Grant applications, which will be reviewed not only by HUD, but also by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are due August 23, 2010. The funding announcement is available on HUD's web site .
1000 Friends is engaged in a scoping process with government, non-profit, and business groups in the Baltimore Metropolitan Region to determine what entities are interested in working together on this initiative. We hope to bring some serious money to Maryland to make our communities stronger!
Stay tuned for more information as we seek – and hopefully implement – funding under this exciting opportunity.
Our Priorities
From Cumberland to Baltimore to Ocean City, Maryland has a wealth of small towns and vibrant cities. 1000 Friends wants to see growth directed to our existing towns in the form of revitalization and expansion.
Even in our urban areas, smart growth takes smart planning. Growth must come with:
- Preservation of historic buildings and the vision of the community
- Improvements to services like schools, water treatment plants, and roads
- Creation of jobs to support local residents
- Access to community parks and green spaces
We support efforts that make it easier for developers to build in existing urban areas, such as tax credits and streamlined permitting. We also support community visioning efforts and strong local planning that make sure growth is done in balance with what the community needs.
