August 1, 2023

HUD: $50 Million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant Awarded to Wilmington, DE

The Wilmington Housing Authority will redevelop Riverside Public Housing and the entire Northeast area

Today, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman announced the awarding of a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation (CNI) grant for $50 million to the Wilmington Housing Authority and the City of Wilmington to redevelop Riverside public housing development. Deputy Secretary Todman kicks off an August of “HUD On the Road.” Throughout the month, HUD leadership will travel across the country to invest in and empower local communities to increase the supply of affordable housing through building preservation and innovation.

Last week, Secretary Fudge announced the awarding of (CNI) Grants totaling $370 million to seven other communities throughout the country. The Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants will help revitalize and transform the distressed public and/or assisted housing and neighborhoods across the country, while also providing residents with services focused on income, health, and education.

“I am pleased that Wilmington is receiving this Choice Neighborhoods award,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. The Wilmington Housing Authority and the City have demonstrated their commitment to neighborhood revitalization, having undergone a comprehensive local planning effort to redevelop the Riverside public housing property and the Northeast neighborhood. This public investment, which represents the maximum amount for grants targeting smaller housing developments, will give local officials the resources they need to achieve their vision for Northeast Wilmington.”

The CNI Grants fund the creation of new mixed-income housing communities, improve economic development opportunities, and support wide-scale community revitalization efforts that focus on the three areas of “Housing, People, and Neighborhood.” The new grantees will join a committed group of 44 other Choice Neighborhoods sites nationwide that have collectively invested more than $6.3 billion into historically disinvested communities. The eight new awards have leveraged an additional $3 billion in public and private commitments to make their larger Transformation Plan a reality.

“By leveraging HUD funding with private and public resources from other federal agencies, the city of Wilmington is breathing new life into a community that has meant so much to the people of this city,” said Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman.

“HUD’s mission is to improve lives and strengthen communities,” said Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Matthew Heckles. “This $50 million Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant is a once-in-a-generation investment in the City of Wilmington and the State of Delaware that will leverage over $400 million through public and private resources, give hundreds of families a great place to live, and create a new and vibrant community in the Northeast part of the city.”

“HUD on the Road” aims to make HUD more accessible, supporting those in need while enhancing wealth-building and homeownership opportunities for all Americans. As HUD leaders travel nationwide, engaging with local communities, they strive to create a brighter and more inclusive future, fostering a stronger nation that provides housing and economic opportunities to every individual.

This post was originally published here.