Hawaii Stories | Community Development Digest

AZ School District Rises to Meet ‘Better Buildings Challenge’

As part of the Obama administration’s effort to cut energy waste in the nation’s buildings, the Department of Energy (DOE) this week recognized Arizona’s Dysart Unified School District (USD) for increasing its use of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies at 25 schools.

read complete story

Hawaii Transit Project Focal Point of Heated Mayoral Race

The race pits Hawaii's former Gov. Ben Cayetano, who came out of retirement to oppose construction of the rail line, against former state House Majority Leader Kirk Caldwell, who argues that millions of dollars have already been invested in the project which will reduce the number of cars on Hawaii's congested roadways by at least 40,000.

read complete story

(BRIEFS) State and Local

Connecticut: Twenty-eight towns statewide receive shares of $12.3 million in competitive Small Cities Community Development Block Grant funding. The top award of $750,000 goes to North Haven, which will use CDBG money to make American Disabilities Act improvements in the town hall. Among the other a...

read complete story

(GRANTS) HUD Seeks Applications from AK, HI Institutions for Assisting Communities Funds

HUD is accepting applications for two awards worth $440,000 each to be given to Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian colleges and universities looking to expand their role and effectiveness in addressing community development needs near campuses.An Aug. 1 deadline has been set for the grant funds throu...

read complete story

(RULES) New Laws Conflict With HUD Rules

Two laws approved by Hawaii state lawmakers violate HUD procurement regulations and they could put federally subsidized construction projects in jeopardy. The laws designed to steer public works contracts to local construction firms were overridden by state lawmakers following a veto by Gov. Linda L...

read complete story

(GRANTS) AK, HI Native Institutions Compete for Shares of $3.2 Million in HUD Funds

HUD sets an Aug. 16 deadline for higher-education institutions supporting Native Alaskan and Hawaiian populations to apply for up to $800,000 in money for community development needs in their localities. The funding, given annually, is targeted to such institutions as they help localities address n...

read complete story

(GRANTS) Treasury Accepting Financial Education Applications from Hawaii Firms

Housing counseling agencies and other qualified groups in Hawaii have until July 8 to apply for portions of Treasury Department pilot demonstration grant money to help grantees provide financial education to prospective homebuyers. HUD and Treasury officials fighting the home foreclosure crisis hav...

read complete story

(AWARDS) Treasury Offers Native CDFI Funds, Makes Bank Enterprise Awards

Editor's Note: As a service to our readers, Fred Cooper, president of Community Development Concepts Advisory Services Inc., a consultancy serving the community development industry (www.cdcadvisoryservices.com ), offers expert analysis and insightful reporting on the foundation, development a...

read complete story

HUD Offers Seven Housing Programs HOPWA Renewal Grants

HUD sends $8 million in Fiscal Year 2009 renewal grants to seven housing programs that provide services to very low-income people living with AIDS. The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program (HOPWA) continues support for these programs, which would otherwise have seen their funding exp...

read complete story

GAO Making Progress on Energy Independence Act Implementation

The Government Accountability Office has made some progress but appears to have a long way to go in implementing green-building provisions of legislation passed in 2007. In a letter to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee, GAO officials note ...

read complete story