HUD AWARDS $2 MILLION TO DOÑA ANA COUNTY FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
Pueblo de Cochiti Housing Authority Receives $292,023

ALBUQUERQUE - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Regional Administrator Derrith Watchman-Moore announced that Doña Ana County will receive a $2,000,000 Sustainable Communities Planning  Grant. Additionally, the Pueblo de Cochiti Housing Authority will receive a Community Challenge Grant for $292,023. Only 56 Grants were awarded nationwide. The goal of the program is to help communities and regions improve their economic competitiveness by connecting housing with good jobs, quality schools and transportation.

"Our nation's ability to compete in a global economy and create jobs depends upon how quickly and efficiently we can connect our workers and families to education and employment opportunities," said Ms. Watchman-Moore. "This grant will help Doña Ana County to create new visions for housing, transportation, workforce development and the quality  of life of their residents for generations to come."

The Regional Planning Grant program encourages grantees to support regional planning efforts that integrate housing, land-use, economic and workforce development, transportation, and infrastructure developments in a manner that empowers regions to consider how all of these factors work together to create more jobs and economic opportunities. The program places a priority on partnerships, including the collaboration of arts and culture, philanthropy, and innovative ideas to the regional planning process. See the Doña Ana grant description below for partners and details.

HUD's Community Challenge Grants aim to reform and reduce barriers to achieving affordable, economically vital and sustainable communities. The funds are awarded to communities to address local challenges to integrating transportation and housing. Such efforts may include amending or updating local master plans, zoning codes, and building codes to support private sector investment in mixed-use development, affordable housing and the re-use of older buildings. Other local efforts may include retrofitting main streets to provide safer routes for children and seniors, or preserving affordable housing and local businesses near new transit stations. See the Pueblo de Cochiti Housing Authority grant description below for partners and details.

Nationally, HUD received over $500 million in funding requests from communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for the $96 million available. This year's grants will impact 45.8 million Americans by helping their communities and regions become more efficient and competitive while improving quality of life.  Combined with the 87 grants funded last year, this program is providing opportunities for the more than 133 million Americans who live in regions and communities working to shape local plans for how their communities will grow and develop over the next 50 years.

This year's grantees continue to reflect a diverse group of states, regions and communities that believe in sustainability. Grants were awarded in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.

Sustainable Communities grants are also significantly complimented and leveraged by local, state and private resources. This year, HUD's investment of $95.8 million is garnering $115 million in matching and in-kind contributions - which is over 120% of the Federal investment - from the 56 selected grantees. This brings to total public and private investment for this round of grants to over $211 million.

These grants are part of the Partnership forSustainable Communities, which is represents an association between HUD, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that the agencies' policies, programs, and funding consider affordable housing, transportation, and environmental protection together. Coordinating federal investments in infrastructure, facilities, and services meets multiple economic, environmental, and community objectives with each dollar spent. The Partnership is helping communities across the country to create more housing choices, make transportation more efficient and reliable, reinforce existing investments, and support vibrant and healthy neighborhoods that attract businesses.

Grant Summary: Doña Ana County will be awarded $2,000,000 to develop the Camino Real: Regional Plan for Sustainable Development. Through grouping the work into 6 component areas, Doña Ana County hopes to bring new economic development opportunities to the area while preserving the historical settlement pattern of Camino Real. The plan will integrate housing and transportation planning to minimize vehicle miles traveled, and explore innovative ride-sharing and public transit options. The plan will provide a rationale for capital spending decisions so that infrastructure resources that permit higher residential densities are combined in ways that protect existing traditional communities and agricultural lands while encouraging growth patterns that support public transit options. In doing so, this project will build local capacity to plan, promote community engagement and support a more sustainable future.

Anticipated Project Benefits:

• Establishment of coordinated intergovernmental planning and secure agreements
  
  
• Alignment of infrastructure investment to ensure equitable land use planning
  
  
• Identification of measures to track progress in the creation of sustainable communities
  
  
• Engagement in site-specific planning and design of capital projects or programs.

Funding Amount: $2,000,000

Core Partners: City of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University, South Central Council of Governments, Las Cruces Metropolitan Planning Organization, El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization, Colonias Development Council, Tierra del Sol Housing corporation

Community Challenge Grant Award: The Pueblo de Cochiti Housing Authority will be awarded $292,023 for the Cochiti Plaza Revitalization Project. The project is a unique undertaking of the Pueblo to revitalize their community by re-examining the historic settlement patterns at the heart of the Pueblo, the "Plaza." The Plaza is the center point for all traditional and cultural activities that occur throughout the year, and this project aims to maintain and strengthen ties to the traditions, culture, and language of the Cochiti people. Through this effort, the Tribe will address substantial and long-term needs and obstacles for promoting local employment, affordable housing, cultural sustainability, and improved transportation systems.

Anticipated Project Benefits:

• Fulfill a long standing tribal community need to revitalize a vital area of public space
  
  
• Increase and enhance employment and income opportunities for tribal members and local artisans
  
  
• Analyze the existing physical structures of 60 homes and two Tribal cultural buildings for future renovation Involve historically underrepresented groups in the planning process-youth, elders, and disabled persons.

Funding Amount: $292,023

Core Partners: Pueblo de cochiti Transportation, Youth Services, and Elder Services Departments; New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority; Sandoval County Department of Transportation; Sandoval County Department of Tourism; Central Mexico Housing Corporation; Native American Chamber of Commerce; New Mexico Small Business Development Center

For a complete listing of this year's grantees and their proposals, please visit www.hud.gov/news/.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on Twitter at @HUDnews or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.