Central New York Develops Collaborative Partnership for HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program

September 15, 2010

Syracuse – In an unprecedented sign of regional collaboration, the CNY RPDB submitted an application on behalf of a consortium representing more than 30 public and private sector organizations in Central New Yor k, for a multi-million dollar regional planning grant under the federal government’s new Sustainable Communities Regional Planning initiative.

The CNY RPDB convened the consortium of regional stakeholders to apply for the grant. The consortium is called the Central New York Regional Plan Advisory Council (CNY RPAC) and it includes the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council, five county governments, five city governments and educational and nonprofit institutions from across Central New York. This marks the first time that all of the organizations involved have applied jointly for a federal grant.

The new federal initiative will provide funds to pay for cooperative regional planning efforts that integrate housing, transportation, environmental impact and economic development. The federal initiative is being managed jointly by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation. The CNY RPDB expects to learn if it will receive a planning grant later this year.

The CNY RPDB identified several key elements that would be included in a comprehensive regional planning effort that will address:
• community and neighborhood development policies and priorities
• economic development growth policies and priorities
• clean energy development
• land use
• transportation and mobility alternatives and infrastructure
• equitable housing policies and priorities.

“The CNY RPDB’s application is a significant milestone in Central New York’s ability to act as a united region and be in a position to take advantage of an increasing number of federal programs designed to promote regional approaches to economic development,” said David Bottar, Executive Director of the CNY RPDB.

“Regardless of the outcome of the grant application, more than 30 organizations from different sectors and different parts of our region have come together and made a commitment to long-range, regional planning. The active leadership from Syracuse, Auburn, Cortland, Oswego and Oneida and the five counties in the proposal development was inspirational. That type of regional commitment bodes well for our collective ability to build a more vibrant economic future for Central New York,” said Bottar.

“This is a real proactive step forward for our region,” said CNY RPDB Board President and Onondaga County Legislature Member Kathy Rapp. ”While a number of our organizations have worked together in the past in providing a specific service, this represents a transformative opportunity for the region to have a planning process that can benefit the region as a whole.”

The Consortium Participants are:
The Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board
NYS Department of State
Cayuga County
Cortland County
Madison County
Onondaga County
Oswego County
City of Auburn
City of Cortland
City of Oneida
City of Oswego
City of Syracuse
Syracuse Housing Authority
Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council
Allyn Foundation
Center State CEO
Central New York Community Foundation
Central New York Regional Transportation Authority
Clean Tech Center at Syracuse Tech Garden
Community Benchmarks Program at Maxwell School
Environmental Finance Center at Syracuse University
FOCUS Greater Syracuse
Gifford Foundation
Home Headquarters
Housing Visions
Jubilee Homes, Inc.
Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County
Say Yes to Education Syracuse
SUNY-ESF Center for the Urban Environment
SUNY-ESF Center for Community Design Research
Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems
Syracuse Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
UPSTATE: Syracuse University School of Architecture

Contact: Chris Carrick
CNY RPDB
315-422-8276 ext. 213
ccarrick@cnyrpdb.org

The Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board (CNY RPDB) is a public agency that was established in 1966 by Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties under the provisions of Article 12B of the New York State General Municipal Law.

The CNY RPDB is governed by a board of directors that is appointed by its five member counties. Financial support for the agency is provided by member county contributions, state and federal grants, and contract service revenue. The CNY RPDB provides a comprehensive range of services associated with the growth and development of communities in Central New York with a focus on the following program areas:

Community Development
Economic Development
Energy Management
Environmental Management
Information and Research Services
Intergovernmental Cooperation
Transportation Planning

Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board
126 North Salina Street, 100 Clinton Square, Suite 200
Syracuse, New York 13202

Phone: (315) 422-8276
Fax: (315) 422-9051

This release was published on openPR.