HUD to Announce NSP II Awards. HUD anticipates awarding Neighborhood Stabilization Program II grants to beneficiaries early this month. Of $13 million in grant applications that HUD received for NSP II funding, $2 million was allocated in the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. (More information.)

HUD to Host NSP II TA Clinics beginning in January through March. NSP grantees will be invited to attend at least one clinic held regionally, and technical assistance is available in general. HUD also will be hosting a state grantees clinic in Denver, and HUD recently launched a web site for NSP II at www.hudnsphelp.info.

President Enacts Increase in FY 2010 Appropriations Funding for Housing, Community Development, and to Create Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. President Obama signed on December 16 the T-HUD bill, which increases funding for various HUD programs. H.R. 3288 funds the following:

• $4.45 billion for CDBG (a $550 million increase over 2009), including $150 million for the Sustainable Communities Initiative;
• $17.5 billion for brownfields redevelopment;
• $1.9 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants (a $188 million increase over 2009);
• $200 million for HOPE VI (more than doubling last year's $70 million), including $65 million for Choice Neighborhood Initiative;
• $18.2 billion for Section 8 Tenant-Based Vouchers ($1.2 billion above 2009); and
• $8.5 billion for Section 8 Project-Based Vouchers ($1.4 billion above 2009).

House Funds $1 Billion for Housing Trust Fund and $1 Billion for Public Housing Capital Fund, part of a $154 billion jobs bill passed on December 16. The National Housing Trust Fund would provide affordable housing for 1.5 million residents in 10 years. The bill also sets aside $65 million for project-based vouchers for housing constructed with Trust Fund expenditures. The Capital Fund would provide funds for existing housing rehabilitation. The Trust Fund proposal was a part of President Obama's FY10 budget, and NACEDA commends the House for enacting it. The Senate is expected to take up the measure in January or February.

NACEDA Launches Interactive Site for Managing Neighborhood Change (MNC): Wide Participation Invited. NACEDA and partner Root Change have launched an upgraded interactive website for MNC collaborative competition--designed to target open source, innovative, and workable solutions to the challenges of managing neighborhood change. The goal is for the community to share its experience and expertise in bringing forward solutions. The current competition ("Diagnostic tools for MNC") will accept submissions through January 29, 2010 on the site. Participants can post ideas, make comments on and rate ideas, participate in polls, access resources, and track team member's activity online. NACEDA invites participation from everyone committed to guiding equitable development in their communities. E-mail: smckinley@naceda.org.

REMINDER: NACEDA Requests CDCs/Associations To Complete 2010 Goals Survey. On December 1, NACEDA issued to state, city, and regional associations and to CDCs a survey to set 2010 federal legislative needs and priorities; to create a national pool of community development experts; and to provide community-based response to federal programs, including NSP, ARRA, and Choice Neighborhoods. NACEDA Policy Committee has extended the deadline to January 15, 2010 for completion of surveys.

NACEDA Invites Members to Join NACEDA CDBG/HOME Task Force examining the challenges and benefits of the CDBG and HOME Programs, including program priorities, collaboration with PJs, HOME productivity, and understanding community-based needs. To join the Task Force, contact Rachel Audi, Director of Government Relations, at (202) 659-7701 or raudi@naceda.org.

NeighborWorks Symposium on Foreclosure and Community Stabilization Includes Best Practices of CDCs. "Rising to the Challenge: Stabilizing Communities in the Wake of Foreclosure," December 9, included addresses by Elizabeth A. Duke (Federal Reserve Governor); Mercedes Marquez (Assistant Secretary for CPD at HUD); and Douglas Palmer (Mayor of the City of Trenton). The Washington DC event also included video presentations from CDCs engaged in foreclosure prevention activities, awarding of the Home Depot Foundation's Awards of Excellence for Sustainable Community Development and the unveiling of NWA's new and improved www.stablecommunities.org website.

NACEDA Joins Eight Partners in Support of CFPA Provisions in Senator Dodd's Financial Overhaul Bill. On December 17, nine national community development and consumer organizations sent a letter to U.S. Senators stating for their support for provisions of the Restoring Financial Stability Act of 2009, introduced by Christopher Dodd, Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. The organizations expressed concern about the current economic climate in the nation's communities, including support for creating a Consumer Financial Protection Agency and expressed interest in continuing to work to ensure a strong bill for community development.

Central Vermont Community Action Council Seeking Loan Fund Director with capabilities in strategic planning, business lending and fundraising for Community Capital, a CDFI based in Barre, VT. Submit letter of inquiry and resume by January 29 to: Personnel Administrator, Central VT Community Action Council, Inc., 195 US Route 302-Berlin, Barre, VT 05641. Contact: Lbeaudoin@cvcac.org.

Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) Seeking Policy Analyst to work with its team to support productive relationships with financial services providers and policymakers. This position is part of an expanded effort to impact federal financial services policy and regulation. To apply, submit cover letter and resume, with a writing sample, to resumes@cfsinnovation.com. Include "policy analyst" in the subject line.

Financial Literacy Teacher Workshop: January 20 in Twin Falls, Idaho. The Idaho Council on Economic Education and Wells Fargo Bank will host a teacher training series. The workshops feature training and curriculum ideas for students of all ages. (More information.)

HAND Meeting on Foreclosure Strategies: January 21 in Washington, DC. HAND's January meeting, titled Foreclosure Crisis: Strategies and Solutions, will be held at the D.C. Housing Finance Agency, from noon until 2:00 p.m. Craig Nickerson of the National Community Stabilization Trust will discuss national best practices foreclosure mitigation strategies. The meeting will also include an update on funding for HUD's NSP II. To register contact jnorcross@handhousing.org.

Green Communities Criteria: January 26 at 2:00. NACEDA in partnership with Enterprise Community Partners is hosting a webinar to provide an introduction and overview of its new Green Communities Initiative, the first national green affordable housing program. The webinar will provide training with regard to the technical criteria of the program, including green building methods, environmentally sustainable materials, land use and conservation. Registration is day-of.

New Partners for Smart Growth: February 4-6, in Seattle, Washington. Join leaders from across the U.S. to tackle new solutions to curbing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing dependence on foreign oil, creating a green economy, and building more livable, walkable, and healthy communities at the 9th annual New Partners for Smart Growth conference. Visit http://newpartners.org/ for more information.

America Saves Week: February 21-28. This national campaign, managed by the Consumer Federation of America, will work through nonprofit, corporate and government institutions to help Americans build wealth through saving. Visit http://www.americasavesweek.org/ for more information.

National Interagency Community Reinvestment Conference, March 14-18 in New Orleans. This conference will cover CRA Compliance, investments, community development and the National Community Development Lending School, tours of community revitalization in New Orleans and opportunities to volunteer and network with other community development workers. (View the agenda and register.)

Economic Development Finance Professional Certification in Ohio: March 22-26, June 7-11, October 4-8, January 24-28. The Ohio CDC Association and National Development Council will offer four courses in Columbus, Ohio over the next year. Early bird registration rate ends January 31. (Register online.)

Financial Literacy: Implications for Retirement Security and the Financial Marketplace: April 29-30. The Philadelphia, Pa. conference, geared toward policymakers, academics, actuaries, plan sponsors, and benefits specialists, will cover lessons learned from the financial crisis and strategies for the future. (More information.)

Grassroots and Groundwork Conference: May 13-14. This year's theme is "Seizing Opportunities to Reduce Poverty and Build Community Prosperity." The conference, held at the Red Lion Hotel in Portland, Oregon, will cover new developments in affordable housing, job training and green enterprises, financial literacy and public policy. Visit http://www.grassrootsandgroundwork.org/ to learn more.

Our thanks to Housing Assistance Council, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, NLIHC, CD Digest, Associated Press, National Council on State Housing Agencies, The Washington Post and Opportunity Finance Network.

Copyright © 2010 by NACEDA. All rights reserved. Any republication must be credited to NACEDA.