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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Housing and Urban Development Sustainable Communities Grant Meeting Date: June 20, 2011 Agenda Item Number: A Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Sarah Medary www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-6877 ISSUE STATEMENT The Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area is one of 45 regions in the country selected to receive a Sustainable Regional Communities Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Its primary purpose is to build economic competitiveness by connecting housing with good jobs, quality schools and transportation. The greatest opportunity of this grant is to enhance our region’s competitive advantage for receiving future federal funds for priority economic development, transportation, and housing projects. The purpose of this work session is to provide the City Council with background information on the grant program, local use of these funds, and linkages to City of Eugene goals as well as an opportunity to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). BACKGROUND On October 14, 2010, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced that 45 regional areas across the country, including the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area, were awarded nearly $100 million in new, competitive grants to promote smarter and sustainable planning for economic growth. The federal notice for the Sustainable Communities grant program and a complete list of grant recipients is attached. In his announcement, Secretary Donovan said “Regions that embrace sustainable communities will have a built-in competitive edge in attracting jobs and private investment. 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.” The Sustainable Communities grant program reflects a federal priority to reduce single objective funding appropriations, and to better integrate federal programs that can support local plans, policies, and economic goals. The federal competitive grants program, spread across multiple federal agencies, represents the majority of discretionary funding available to communities across the country. This grant program is part of the federal Partnership for Sustainable \\Cesrv500\cc support\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M110620\S110620A.doc