2011-14911. Notice of Web Availability: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for HUD's Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 Choice Neighborhoods Initiative-Planning Grants

AGENCY:

Office of the Chief of the Human Capital Officer, HUD.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

HUD announces the availability on its Web site and Grants.gov applicant information, submission deadlines, funding criteria, and other requirements for HUD's FY2011 Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Program—Planning Grants NOFA. Specifically, this NOFA announces the availability of approximately $3.6 million made available under the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011, Public Law 112-10, enacted April 15, 2011.

The purpose of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative-Planning Grant Program is to support the development of comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans which, when implemented, may be expected to achieve the following three core goals:

1. Housing: Transform distressed public and assisted housing into energy efficient, mixed-income housing that is physically and financially viable over the long-term;

2. People: Support positive outcomes for families who live in the target development(s) and the surrounding neighborhood, particularly outcomes related to residents' health, safety, employment, mobility, and education; and

3. Neighborhood: Transform distressed, high-poverty neighborhoods into viable, mixed-income neighborhoods with access to well-functioning services, high quality public schools and education programs, high quality early learning programs and services, public assets, public transportation, and improved access to jobs.

To achieve these core goals, communities must develop and implement a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy, or Transformation Plan. This Transformation Plan will become the guiding document for the revitalization of the public and/or assisted housing units, while simultaneously directing the transformation of the surrounding neighborhood and positive outcomes for families.

The notice providing information regarding the application process, funding criteria and eligibility requirements, application and instructions can be found using the Department of Housing and Urban Development agency link on the Grants.gov/Find Web site at http://www.grants.gov/​search/​agency.do. A link to the funding opportunity is also available on the HUD Web site at http://portal.hud.gov/​hudportal/​HUD?​src=​/​program_​offices/​administration/​grants/​fundsavail.

The link from the funds available page will take you to the agency link on Grants.gov.

The Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this program is 14.889. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Questions regarding specific program requirements should be directed to the agency contact identified in the program NOFA. Program staff will not be available to provide guidance on how to prepare the application. Questions regarding the 2011 General Section should be directed to the Office of Grants Management and Oversight at [phone] or the NOFA Information Center at 800-HUD-8929 (toll free).

Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access these numbers via TTY by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

Dated: June 9, 2011.

Barbara S. Dorf,

Director, Office of Departmental Grants Management and Oversight, Office of the Chief of the Human Capital Officer.