Resilient & Sustainable Communities
An e-Source Library for Oregon State

"Connecting housing to jobs, fostering local innovation and building a clean energy economy."

February 4, 2010

During visits to the Northwest in early 2010, the Housing & Urban Development Secretary announced the establishment of an Office of Economic Development. It would, he explained, be charged with creating "strong, sustainable communities by connecting housing to jobs, fostering local innovation, and helping to build a clean energy economy".

By coordinating Federal housing, transportation and environmental policies and investments with local land use decision-making, the nation could, he said, "reduce transportation costs for families, improve housing affordability, save energy, and increase access to housing and employment opportunities." When it "comes to housing, environmental and transportation policy," he argued, "the federal government must speak with one voice."

The Secretary also announced formation of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities (https://www.sustainablecommunities.gov/), an "unprecedented" federal collaboration. Guided by six Livability Principles the "unprecedented" new partnership between HUD, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is to "provide resources and tools to help communities realize their own visions for building more livable, walkable, environmentally sustainable regions."

Since 2009, HUD, DOT, and EPA have been coordinating their work to help communities around the country better meet their housing, transportation, and environmental goals-laying the groundwork for an economy that provides good jobs now and creates a strong foundation for long-term prosperity.

This work is well underway in the Northwest, thanks not just to the Federal partnership but, more importantly, to scores of local governments, nonprofit organizations and private citizens across the region. As a result, more than a dozen communities in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho have received HUD's Preferred Sustainability Status, which in FY2013 can provide bonus points to applicants seeking funding for sustainable community development. More information, including a PSS map and contact list is available on HUD's website.

Find out more about the work we - and our Federal, state and local partners - are doing in Oregon by visiting the links below. And, once you do, we hope you will contribute your energy and expertise to building more sustainable communities and more sustainable futures in the Northwest.

Partnership for Sustainable Communities' national website (http://www.sustainablecommunities.gov/)

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) Sustainable Communities Resource Center (http://www.huduser.org/portal/sustainability/home.html).

Sign up for the HUD Northwest Sustainable Communities mailing list (http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/subscribe/signup&listname=
HUD%20Northwest%20Sustainable%20Communities&list=HUD-NORTHWEST-SUSTAINABILITY-L).

Contact HUD Northwest's Sustainability Team (Chris.Hoffer@hud.gov).
 

HUD SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTHWEST

In 2010 and 2011, the following communities were awarded funding through the HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning and Community Challenge Grant Programs. A full list of grantees and project information is available here.

• Sustainable Yellowstone - Idaho (http://sustainableyellowstone.org/)
• City of Beaverton - Oregon (http://www.beavertonoregon.gov/)
• Lane Council of Governments - Oregon (http://www.livabilitylane.org/)
• Washington County, Oregon (http://www.co.washington.or.us/LUT/PlanningProjects/alohareedville/index.cfm)
• Puget Sound Regional Council - Washington (http://www.psrc.org/growth/growing-transit-communities/)
• City of Seattle - Washington (http://www.seattle.gov/housing/Cornerstones/default.htm)
• Spokane Tribe of Indians - Washington (http://www.spokanetribe.com/)
• Sustainable Thurston - Washington (http://www.trpc.org/regionalplanning/sustainability/Pages/default.aspx)

LOCAL SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS

State of Oregon Sustainability (http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/SUS/)

Portland Bureau of Planning & Sustainability (http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=28534)

Sustainable Clackamas County (http://www.co.clackamas.or.us/sustainability/)

Corvallis Sustainability Coalition (http://www.sustainablecorvallis.org/)

Sustainable Eugene (http://www.eugene-or.gov/index.aspx?NID=504)

Salem Sustainability (http://www.cityofsalem.net/Residents/Sustainable-Salem/Pages/default.aspx)

Klamath Sustainable Communities (http://www.klamathsustainablecommunities.org/index.shtml)

Multnomah County Office of Sustainability (http://web.multco.us/sustainability)

Sustainable Gresham (http://greshamoregon.gov/city/sustainability)

OTHER SUSTAINABILITY RESOURCES

1,000 Friends of Oregon (http://www.friends.org/)

Coalition for a Livable Future (http://clfuture.org/)

Oregon MPO Consortium (http://www.ompoc.org/about.html)

Portland State University Institute for Sustainable Solutions (http://www.pdx.edu/sustainability/)

Ecodistricts.org (http://www.pdxinstitute.org/)

Green Lane Sustainable Business Network Eugene (http://greenlane-sbn.org/)

Cascadia Green Building Council (http://cascadiagbc.org/)

Northwest Environmental Business Council (http://www.nebc.org/)

Northwest Eco Building Guild (http://www.ecobuilding.org/)

Northwest Community Land Trust Coalition (http://www.nwcltc.org/)

Sustainable Northwest (http://www.sustainablenorthwest.org/)

ENERGY EFFICIENT MORTGAGES

HUD Energy Efficient Mortgage for new homeowners (http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/sfh/eem/energy-r)

HUD PowerSaver Mortgage for existing homeowners (http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/sfh/title)

USDA Energy Efficient Mortgages (http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/HSF_SFH.html) - USDA Rural Housing guaranteed, direct and repair & rehab loans can finance energy efficiency in purchasing either new or existing homes.

Oregon Energy Loan Program (http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/LOANS/selphm.shtml)

ENERGY EFFICIENT TAX CREDITS & REBATES

Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credits (http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index)

Oregon Energy Efficient Tax Credits (http://www.dasolar.com/energytaxcredit-rebates-grants/oregon)

Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credits (http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/CONS/RES/RETC.shtml)

Oregon Database of Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (http://www.dsireusa.org/)

WEATHERIZATION & LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS

Oregon Housing & Community Services  Low Income Energy Assistance Program (http://www.oregon.gov/OHCS/SOS_Low_Income_Energy_Assistance_Oregon.shtml)

Oregon Housing & Community Services Weatherization (http://www.oregon.gov/OHCS/SOS_Low_Income_Weatherization_Assistance_Oregon.shtml)

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