HUD Awards Atlanta $450,000 Choice Neighborhood Planning Funds As part of the $5 million in Choice Neighborhood Planning Grants announced nationwide

HUD Secretary Ben Carson announces $450,000 Choice Neighborhood (CN) Planning Grant award to Atlanta as part of the $5 million in CN planning grants awarded nationwide.

HUD Secretary Ben Carson recently visited Atlanta and with Region IV Administrator Denise Cleveland Leggett announced $450,000 FY 2020 Choice Neighborhood (CN) Planning Grant award for the revitalization of the Bowen Homes community as part of the $5 million in CN funds announced nationwide.

"Today's grants will help to jump start the plans for immense positive change in eleven of our Nation's often-neglected neighborhoods," said Carson. "I look forward to seeing their plans come to fruition as we help to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and set our neighbors back onto a path of self-sufficiency."

"These federal funds, and the critically important investments from AH, the City of Atlanta, Atlanta Public Schools, Invest Atlanta, Morehouse School of Medicine and others, will provide a roadmap to the sustainable redevelopment of the Bowen site and will lay the groundwork for future investments in area housing, open space, neighborhood retail, and other elements for the benefit of former, current and future residents," said Eugene E. Jones, Jr., CEO of Atlanta Housing.

The 77-acre Bowen site is critical to the revitalization of the far northwest side of the city and has been vacant since 2008. Atlanta Housing and the City of Atlanta along with the Atlanta Public Schools, Morehouse School of Medicine, The Trust for Public Land, Invest Atlanta, The Georgia Conservancy, Live Thrive Atlanta (CHaRM), City Council District 9, and others are partnering in this effort.

"This grant represents an amazing vision for a community-driven planning process and equitable development to benefit former residents of Bowen Homes, the legacy residents of Carey Park and small businesses along Donald Lee Hollowell," said Dr. Christopher Edwards, chairman of the Atlanta Housing Board of Commissioners.

The Choice Neighborhood planning starts in January 2021 and is co-led with the City of Atlanta's Department of Planning focusing on mixed-income housing with a mix of commercial uses, small business development and job creation, investments in sustainable green infrastructure, environmental restoration, and health and education benefits for the Bowen Choice Neighborhood. The Carey Park neighborhood and the Donald Lee Hollowell business corridor are also located in a designated Opportunity Zone. This effort involves working with Invest Atlanta, as economic development, increasing employment opportunities and upward mobility for the low-income residents of the area is a primary focus and goal.

To learn more about the Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant and FY 2020 Notice of Funding Availability, visit www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/cn/planninggrants.

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