Sustainable Communities Planning Grant program is a new collaborative between HUD, EPA and Department of Transportation to promote plans and development of sustainable communities on a regional scale. A consortium in Northeast Ohio is working on an application that will meet the following goals:

The Program will support metropolitan and multijurisdictional planning efforts that integrate housing, land use, economic and workforce development, transportation, and infrastructure investments in a manner that empowers jurisdictions to consider the interdependent challenges of:

1. economic competitiveness and revitalization;
2. social equity, inclusion, and access to opportunity;
3. energy use and climate change; and (4) public health and environmental impact.

The Program will place a priority on investing in partnerships, including nontraditional partnerships (e.g., arts and culture, recreation, etc.) that translate the Livability Principles into strategies that direct long-term development and reinvestment, demonstrate a commitment to addressing issues of regional significance, utilize data to set and monitor progress toward performance goals, and engage stakeholders and citizens in meaningful decision-making roles.

Resources 

Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grants Overview and Resources 

HUD Sustainable Communities Final Notice of Funding Availability:

• General Section
• Program Section