July 1, 2010

RE: Grant Funding Available

Dear Mayor:

Funding is available in the following two areas:

1)   Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program NOFA.  The Regional Planning Grant was authorized by the FY2010 Omnibus Appropriations Act for $100 million.  Not less than $25 million will be made available for communities with populations less than 500,000.  The Planning Grants will support planning efforts that integrate transportation, land-use, economic and workforce development and other factors to promote economic revitalization with partnerships to bring all stakeholders to the table. 

·     FACT SHEET for the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program http://www.njslom.org/documents/Grant1.pdf

2)   TIGERII/Community Challenge Planning Grant (CCPG) NOFA.  A program to better align transportation, housing, economic development, and land use planning and to improve linkages between DOT and HUD programs. The grants award up to $75 million in funding – $35 million in TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) II Planning Grants and $40 million in Sustainable Community Challenge Grants for localized planning activities that ultimately lead to projects that integrate transportation, housing and economic development.
·     PRESS RELEASE for the TIGERII/CCPG Grant http://www.njslom.org/documents/Grant2.pdf
SIDE-BY-SIDE comparison of the two programs: http://www.njslom.org/documents/Grant3.pdf

The link for the grants and more information can be found at: http://www.hud.gov/sustainability

For further information contact Carolyn Gehl Fefferman, Esq., Senior Advisor, Office of Senator Robert Menendez at (973) 645-3030 or Carolyn_Fefferman@menendez.senate.gov

Very Truly Yours,

William G. Dressel, Jr.
Executive Director