$500,000 in grants to green affordable housing

Name: Enterprise Community Partners Opens Application for Spring Round of Green Communities Grants

Sponsor: Green Communities

Deadline: 4/20/2009

Amount: varies

Type: Environment, Social & Economic

Description: Green Communities is a five-year, $555 million commitment by Enterprise Community Partners to build more than 8,500 healthy, efficient homes for low-income people and to make environmentally sustainable development the mainstream in the affordable housing industry. Green Communities provides funds and expertise to enable developers to build and rehabilitate homes that are healthier, more energy efficient, and better for the environment.

Through its spring grant round, Enterprise will award a total of $500,000 to developments committed to providing green affordable housing. Grant awards will range between $20,000 and $75,000 per project. In general, Green Communities grants will be made as part of a package of favorable financing intended to improve the feasibility of integrating green building items throughout affordable housing developments.

Grants may be used for a variety of costs, including planning related to the integrated design process (architectural work, charrette, engineering, site surveys, analysis of energy use, and environmental reviews), green construction items, construction review and performance testing, and energy services.

The grant program is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public housing authorities, tribally designated housing entities, for-profit entities, and for-profit entities participating through joint ventures with qualified organizations. The applicant and the development team must demonstrate their qualifications to successfully carry out the proposed development.

Visit the Green Communities Web site for complete grant program information and eligibility criteria.

Here’s the link: http://www.greencommunitiesonline.org/tools/funding/grants/planning.asp#availability