Antoine M. Thompson

#DC #Council #overrides #Mayor #Bowser’s #veto #over #housing #program #rules "#Bowser #had #vetoed #emergency #legislation #passed in #April by the council #that #continued laxer #pandemic-#era #rules #allowing #voucher #applicants #to #self-#certify #their #information #if #they #had #trouble #obtaining #the #required #supporting #documents. The changes, lawmakers said, were #intended #to #help #homeless or undocumented applicants who could face significant hurdles gathering the documents. #The #legislation #also #prohibited the D.C. Housing Authority (#DCHA), #which #administers #DCs #local #voucher #programs, #from #inquiring #about #applicants’ #criminal #history #or #immigration #status. "

1

1 Comment

      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 20, 2024 Contact: David P. Coleman [email protected] usps.com/news     U.S. Postal Service Announces No Stamp Price Changes for January 2025   Postmaster General DeJoy’s recommendation not to raise prices for Market Dominant products in January 2025 approved by the Governors of the Postal Service    Delivering For America plan is a balanced plan that is working to control costs and grow our package business                                                                                            Postal Service prices remain among the most affordable in the world   WASHINGTON — A recommendation by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy not to raise prices in January 2025 for Market Dominant products, which includes First-Class Mail, was accepted by the Governors of the United States Postal Service. Accordingly, the price of a stamp to mail a 1-once single-piece First-Class letter will not increase.        The Postal Service’s operational strategies are designed to boost service reliability, cost efficiency, and overall productivity.    “Our strategies are working and projected inflation is declining,” said Postmaster General DeJoy. “Therefore, we will wait until at least July before proposing any increases for market dominant services.”   The Postal Service remains committed to continued cost saving measures and to keeping its products and services affordable. Only a handful of countries have a lower price for a domestic single-piece letter.   Lastly, the Postal Service continues to deliver on the tenets of the  Delivering for America 10-year plan, while executing our public service mission — to provide a nationwide, integrated network for the delivery of mail and packages at least six days a week — in a cost-effective and financially sustainable manner over the long term, just as the U.S. Congress intended and the law requires.   # # #

6

1 Comment

Households in disadvantaged and low-income communities across the United States are disproportionately affected by the impacts of unaffordable housing and energy bills, unsafe or unhealthy housing conditions, and climate change. The new R2E2 Playbook highlights dozens of strategies and examples to help program administrators establish residential energy retrofit initiatives that are community-led, easy-to-use, and able to achieve benefits like healthier and more affordable housing, reduced energy burdens, new economic opportunities for workers and small business owners, and reduced pollution. Please join Residential Retrofits for Energy Equity (R2E2) on June 26 at 2 p.m. ET as we launch the R2E2 Playbook, a tool for program administrators seeking to establish, improve, or expand building energy upgrade programs for low- and moderate-income housing. https://lnkd.in/djJc4Td3

5

Far too many communities have their planning and zoning policies established in a manner that drive needed new housing into the discretionary review process. “It is in this process in which affordability and access can be lost, and the production of needed new housing slowed. #housing #homebuilding #housingpolicy #planning

11

IRA funding secured, now what? 🤷‍  HARC’s Director of Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs, Marina V. Badoian-Kriticos, will be moderating a panel discussion on the next steps for utilities and local government agencies post-Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Grants. This panel at the SPEER Industry and Policy Workshop in Austin, TX, on September 20th, 2024 will share their experiences after having recently received their grant awards. They will dive into the journey of managing federal grants, from application to project execution, offering insights to optimize the entire process, and ensure lasting impacts on their communities. The IRA funds a variety of projects addressing climate and energy challenges. HARC Is collaborating on multiple IRA-funded projects, including the ForUsTree initiative designed to address tree equity issues in Houston, and the Texas Solar for All Coalition which aims to bridge the solar equity gap in underserved communities. Learn more about the SPEER Industry and Policy Workshop here https://bit.ly/4gjfEBY   Learn more about Marina Badoian-Kriticos here https://bit.ly/MBKriticos   Learn more about ForUsTree here https://bit.ly/3PwvBIu  Learn more about Solar For All here https://bit.ly/47aIPTx  #HARCResearch #spEEr24 #Infrastructureinvestment #CleanEnergyForAll #EnergyResilience #EnergyEquity #HoustonEquity #GrantFunding 

12

Grants. Contributions. Loans. What's in a name? In the delivery of its programs, the federal government transfers funds to individuals or organizations for the realization of projects. The funding that is provided generally takes one of three forms: grants, contributions and loans. Are these types of financing different? Yes. Depending on whether it is a grant, a contribution or a loan, the funding comes with its specific set of strings attached. Check out my blog post to see how they differ. https://wix.to/MzSepax

8

1 Comment

Collaboration Thrives Through Economic Development Practitioners Network A successful economic development initiative reflects the skills and insights of the people behind it. In the Columbia Basin/Boundary region, the Economic Development Practitioners Network (EDPN) exists to improve the effectiveness of its members including community economic development professionals, and individuals holding a primary economic development role within municipalities, First Nations, Chambers of Commerce, Community Futures and Trusts. By connecting economic development practitioners with specialized consultants and thought leaders, the EDPN promotes collaboration between communities on projects, and facilitates sharing of wise practices. Members also come together to strategize on timely community issues such as housing, agriculture, and transportation of goods. The Columbia Basin Trust was the initial funder of the important work of the EDPN. The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) has now joined in, supporting the EDPN for multiple years. Its most recent funding was used to expand infrastructure and member services. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gGUqAD3f #StrongEconomy #StrongerCommunities #ETSIBC

24

A new WBC program – Assessment to Action (A2A) – introduces the concept of the economic growth flywheel and problem analysis to help community leaders identify specific barriers that are obstructing their ability to achieve local economic development goals. Learn more about Assessment to Action at wbc.pub/A2A #resilient #WBC25years #whywyoming #thrivewyo #wybusiness #economicflywheel

12

New map released by Dept. of Energy shows where investments are flowing so communities can be alert to opportunities for community benefits plans and agreements. "This Community Benefits Map for Demonstration and Deployment Projects is a tool that local communities can use to better understand what DOE-supported projects are being developed in their areas. This will allow local community members and other leaders to engage more effectively with the project, ultimately creating stronger and more specific benefits and building long-term project support." https://lnkd.in/eHPd7353

5

The nation's fair and affordable housing crisis is starting to receive the attention that it deserves, and the National Fair Housing Alliance calls on lenders and policymakers to implement sensible supply and demand strategies that will democratize opportunity and give everyday people the fair housing opportunities they deserve. ✅ $100 billion to fund upfront first-generation down payment assistance (DPA) for consumers who lack inherited wealth so they can overcome the primary obstacle to fairly accessing homeownership-a lack of down payment. ✅ Aligning the GSEs'-Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks)-first-generation DPA definitions with the Downpayment Toward Equity Act's definition to ensure a lack of complexity in the program's implementation for millions of prospective homebuyers. ✅ Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should include eligibility for first-generation homebuyers in their affordable lending programs to add 1.2 million households of prime home-buying age (25-54) to the group of potential participants, of which the majority are Black or Latino households. ✅ The Federal Housing Finance Agency should require the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks) to create equity plans supporting first-generation homebuyers. ✅ Congress should pass legislation to substantially increase the amounts the FHLBanks devote to housing and community development in exchange for their tremendous taxpayer subsidies, and the funding must affirmatively further fair housing under the Fair Housing Act. ✅ Mortgage lenders with existing first-time homebuyer programs should add first-generation DPA to the programs to reduce racial homeownership gaps. ✅  Pass the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act, with fair housing principles to minimize displacement of current residents of distressed neighborhoods. The tax credit would cover the gap in construction and rehabilitation costs of homes for owner-occupancy and would add 500,000 new and/or rehabilitated affordable homes in urban, suburban and rural communities hardest hit by the Great Recession. ✅ Ensure our nation's robust fair housing and lending laws are fully enforced and fund private, nonprofit fair housing organizations that process over 75% of housing discrimination complaints with $125 million to provide critical assistance to the victims of housing discrimination. These innovative supply-side and demand solutions would create equitable opportunities for communities of color as well as consumers in underserved, rural neighborhoods, and ultimately grow the economy for everyone. https://lnkd.in/eEFsBkhm

39

The U.S. Department of State continues to conduct market research around the need to establish a Federally funded research and development centers (FFRDC). Link on sam.gov: https://lnkd.in/e5eVfVZ5 The Department received industry comments and is seeking additional input on the draft Scope of Services document in the RFI. All comments received in response to the Federal Register notices will be addressed by a supplemental fourth Federal Register notice in the near future. Responses due Oct 02, 2024 05:00 pm EDT #govcon #research #diplomacy #IT #innovation #modernization

26

3 Comments

Data-driven decision making in the 21st century requires updates to our standards, philosophies, policies and programs if we are to achieve equitable and just outcomes

1

FEMA has announced an extension to the closeout deadline for COVID-19 Public Assistance projects, giving communities more time to complete vital recovery efforts: 🔶 June 30, 2025 is the new deadline for all projects obligated by April 1, 2025. 🔶 Projects obligated after April 1, 2025, will need to close within 90 days of obligation. This extension aims to support communities in finalizing essential recovery projects tied to COVID-19 response and recovery. View more details on the extension: https://zurl.co/Q93cn #CommunitySupport #DisasterManagement #Pandemic

18

🏛️ Annual surveys of US mayors show that one of their top priorities is creating sufficient affordable housing stock. ⬇️ GMF Cities expert Tarsi Dunlop identifies new tactics to break down barriers to more housing production: https://bit.ly/4dsMmzb

5

REAP Applicants - USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service published a Notice of Funding of Opportunity (NOFO) in the Federal Register on October 16, 2024, entitled, ‘‘Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Rural Energy for America Program for Fiscal Years 2025, 2026, and 2027.” The Notice contains important information for potential applicants planning to submit applications for financial assistance through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). REAP helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption and helps meet the nation’s critical energy needs. We are currently accepting applications for Renewable Energy Systems (RES), Energy Efficiency Improvements (EEI), and Energy Efficient Equipment Systems (EEE) applications through REAP. Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. December 31, 2024. We also want to make you aware of recent changes: Rural Development will not accept REAP applications between April 1 and June 30 of each year covered under this notice. If we receive an application during this time, it will not be reviewed or processed, and the application will be returned. The REAP application deadlines for FY 2025 are: December 31, 2024 March 31, 2025 The REAP application deadlines for FY 2026 are: September 30, 2025 December 31, 2025 March 31, 2026 The REAP application deadlines for FY 2027 are: September 30, 2026 December 31, 2026 March 31, 2027

7

Important news for tribal economies. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service have proposed new rules to clarify the tax-exempt status of tribally owned businesses. This move aims to: -End decades of confusion -Support tribal self-determination -Enable tribes to benefit from clean energy tax credits This is a game-changer for tribal economic development and renewable energy projects. The proposed rules put tribal governments on equal footing with other governments in terms of tax status. As Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, said: "This is a pivotal moment for Indian Country. So much economic opportunity flows from tax certainty." What are your thoughts on this development? How might it impact tribal businesses and clean energy initiatives? #TribalEconomics #CleanEnergy #TaxPolicy #IndigenousRights

8

Important news for tribal economies. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service have proposed new rules to clarify the tax-exempt status of tribally owned businesses. This move aims to: -End decades of confusion -Support tribal self-determination -Enable tribes to benefit from clean energy tax credits This is a game-changer for tribal economic development and renewable energy projects. The proposed rules put tribal governments on equal footing with other governments in terms of tax status. As Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, said: "This is a pivotal moment for Indian Country. So much economic opportunity flows from tax certainty." What are your thoughts on this development? How might it impact tribal businesses and clean energy initiatives? #TribalEconomics #CleanEnergy #TaxPolicy #IndigenousRights

3

1 Comment