HUD awards $3.7M to Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) - For the first time ever, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is awarding $3.7 million to support more livable and sustainable communities in 10 counties in the Austin area.

The funding announced Thursday will support a new initiative by the Capital Area Council of Governments of Austin to build economic competitiveness by connecting housing with good jobs, quality schools and transportation.

The award was announced at an event Thursday at City Hall with Rep. Lloyd Doggett and Mayor Lee Leffingwell.

 

HUD’s new Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program is providing $98 million nationally in grants to a total of 45 state, local and tribal governments and metropolitan planning organizations, to develop and execute regional plans that integrate affordable housing with neighboring retail and business development and transportation.

Many of the grants will leverage existing infrastructure, and all reward local collaboration and innovation.

 

“Regions that embrace sustainable communities will have a built-in competitive edge in attracting jobs and private investment,” said HUD regional administrator C. Donald Babers. “Planning our communities smarter means parents will spend less time driving and more time with their children; more families will live in safe, stable communities near good schools and jobs; and more businesses will have access to the capital and talent they need to grow and prosper.”

 

“This public-private partnership building sustainable communities will help us be a magnet for good jobs and improve the quality of life,” said Doggett.

 

“We are excited to see Central Texas receive the Sustainable Communities Grant,” said Leffingwell. “As our area continues to grow by leaps and bounds, we must plan better transportation systems, economic development and preserve our quality of life. This grant will allow us to achieve long-range regional planning and cooperation.”

 

Thursday’s grants are part of the Obama administration’s Partnership for Sustainable Communities. Interagency collaborations achieve better results for communities and use taxpayer money more efficiently.

These grants were judged by a multidisciplinary review team, drawn from eight federal agencies and partners in philanthropy.

 

The grants are being awarded in one of two categories:

• Grants for regional planning for sustainable development where such plans do not currently exist
• Grants that support the implementation of existing sustainability plans, the category the Austin grant falls into

 

The Capital Area COG of Austin will use its grant for the CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) 2035 Long-Range Transportation Plan, which envisions future regional growth being accommodated in a network of 37 mixed-use, mixed-income, walkable, connected and transit-supportive activity centers that provide a balanced mix of jobs, housing, and services, primarily within the context of existing communities.

The activity centers concept is designed to improve the region’s livability in the areas of transportation system performance, air and water quality, and social equity and opportunity.

 

Core partners include:

• Capital Area Council of Governments
• Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
• Envision Central Texas
• City of Austin
• City of Round Rock
• City of San Marcos
• University of Texas at Austin
• IBM