Suffolk County, a suburb of New York City, just received the prestigious Robert L. Woodson Award from HUD - one of only four municipalities in the country to receive such an honor, which is given to state and local governments that have successfully reduced regulatory barriers to affordable housing.

Fast-Track to Affordable Housing: Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy (center) accepted the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Robert L. Woodson Award for "reducing regulatory barriers to affordable housing." Suffolk is one of only four municipalities in the country to receive the recognition. Pictured with Levy are Jim Morgo (left), Commissioner of Economic Development and Workforce Housing, and Sean Moss (right), HUD Regional Director for New York and New Jersey.

HUD Regional Director Sean M. Moss presented the award to Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy at a press conference at Islip Landings in Central Islip, an affordable housing development that was created by doing away with unnecessary or outdated local regulations.

Suffolk County was recognized for its Workforce Housing Commission and Red Tape Reduction Plan, introduced by Levy in 2004. Streamlining the permit process and other improvements led to 31 new applications for affordable developments and 300 housing units in the first year. Levy said that developments in Central Islip, Southampton, Yaphank, Patchogue and Southold were aided by the elimination of red tape.

The Robert L. Woodson, Jr. Award is named in memory of the Department's former chief of staff and is the federal government's highest honor for recognizing affordable housing efforts by state and local governments. It was established last year, with another New York State locality, White Plains, being honored.