In 2009 the Obama Administration and Congress took unprecedented steps to promote equitable and sustainable communities. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), [DB1]launched an unprecedented new program to help regions plan for sustainability. In October of 2010, nearly $100 million was awarded through a competitive process to 45 different regions to create and implement regional plans that integrate housing, land use, economic and workforce development, transportation, and infrastructure investments. This year, approximately $67 million has been allocated for this competitive grant process. Follow the links here for more information about the FY2011 Sustainable Communities Notice of Funding Availability and the Community Challenge Notice of Funding Availability.

PolicyLink is undertaking a range of activities -- including advocacy, policy development, capacity building, and technical assistance -- to ensure that this new approach to building sustainable communities takes into account the needs of low-income people and communities of color.

Furthermore, PolicyLink was recently selected by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide capacity building and technical support to current and future Sustainable Communities and Community Challenge Grantees. Click here to read the press release about this new initiative.

PolicyLink, with coalition partners, are engaged in advancing policies and strategies that embrace equity as the superior growth model.Sustainable Communities are communities of opportunity.PolicyLink works with our partners towards policies that lift up those at the bottom of the income distribution, grow the middle class, and provide upward mobility for all.