WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced yesterday that it is making available $110 million in grants to transform public and assisted housing and to revitalize communities through its FY 2012 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Program. 
 

“We make these funds available for communities that are serious about breathing new life into areas that have seen very little public investment over the years,” said Sandra Henriquez, HUD assistant secretary. “These grants will help provide communities the building blocks they need to take a holistic approach toward transforming these neighborhoods that anyone would be proud to call home.”
 

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said the Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants will take community planning from the drawing board and put it into action. 

Housing is one of Choice Neighborhoods’ three core goals. Specifically, that goal is “to help transform distressed public and assisted housing into energy efficient, mixed-income housing that is physically and financially viable over the long-term,” according to Donovan.
 

Applicants have until April 10 to apply for the FY 2012 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grants. 
 

They must submit their applications electronically by visiting www.grants.gov.