FREMONT COUNTY WINS $1.5 MILLION HUD SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PLANNING GRANT
Bi-state partnership will develop plans to support sustainable, economically-vibrant communities in Western Yellowstone area

SEATTLE - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and HUD Northwest Regional Administrator Mary McBride today announced that Fremont County, Idaho, has won a $1.5 million Sustainable Communities Planning Grants, to develop a Plan for Sustainable Development of the Western Greater Yellowstone Area.

In a bi-state partnership that includes Fremont County, cities of Rexburg, St. Anthony, Ashton, Island Park, Driggs and Victor, Teton County (ID), the Idaho Department of State Lands, Teton County (WY), the Yellowstone Business Council the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Sustainable Communities Planning Grant will be used to develop a clear, cross-jurisdictional framework that will allow for implementation of the Plan and its elements, including a standardized code for "meaningful and effective" sustainability plans for each of the participating jurisdictions.

The Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant awarded to Fremont County is one of some $96 million in grants awarded by HUD today to 56 projects across the country in two categories - 27 communities and organizations won Community Challenge grants and 29 regional collaborations, like the Western Yellowstone collaboration, will receive Regional Planning grants. This year's Sustainable Communities grant competition received applications for more than $500 million in funding.

"Our nation's ability to compete in a global economy and create jobs is dependent upon how quickly and efficiently we can connect our workers and families to education and employment opportunities." said HUD Secretary Donovan. "This year we are especially proud that we had a particular focus on funding proposals that included more chambers of commerce and economic development corporations as core partners. These grants will be leveraged with local funds more than doubling the investment and, helping to create new visions for how communities and regions plan for housing, transportation, workforce development and the quality of life of their residents for generations to come. When 52% of the average working family's income is devoted to housing and transportation costs alone, we know that we have a responsibility to fix that and to provide housing and transportation options that can improve their quality of life and economic stability," he added.

"Every community faces unique challenges and unique opportunities," said HUD Northwest Regional Administrator McBride. "Top-down, cookie-cutter grants are ill-suited to helping communities define and achieve what they want their future to look like. That can only happen from the ground up, through a collaboration that has the resources to map a route and the job, housing and transportation development strategies that will get them where they want to be."

"The demand for sustainability grants is very high; we would have needed $500 million to fund all proposals we received this year." said HUD Office of Sustainable Housing Communities (OSHC) Director, Shelley Poticha. "We are confident that the mix of rural and urban proposals that we selected this year will have a great impact in their communities."

HUD's Sustainable Communities 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 will place a priority on partnerships, including the collaboration of arts and culture, philanthropy, and innovative ideas to the regional planning process. Recognizing that areas are in different stages of sustainability planning.

HUD has established two categories for the Regional Planning Grant program. The first supports communities that are beginning the conversation about how best to align their housing, transportation, environment, and other infrastructure investments. The second recognizes that some communities have already achieved significant momentum and are prepared to move toward completion and implementation of regional plans for sustainable development.

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.

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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.