Urban Initiatives Program (UI)
Type
Capital, Pre-development/Acquisition
Source
State
Procurement Agency
New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR)
Total Annual Award
The last announced amount of new funds available was $3.5 million in 2008.
Eligible Populations
Households at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI), with consideration for family size.
Eligible Projects
All eligible projects must
- be low-income housing projects or a series of projects located within cities with a population of 25,000 or more
- be built or rehabilitated by nonprofit, community-based or charitable organizations formed at least one year prior
- have as the central goal preserving or revitalizing the surrounding community.
Projects not eligible for UI funding based on neighborhood population are eligible for Rural Assistance Revitalization Project (RARP) funding.
Funding Award Details
UI funding was last appropriated in 2008. The funds from that period were spent by November 2010.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and not graded competitively. As of November 2010, all funds have been allocated, and no additional funds were appropriated in 2011. A notice of funding availability (NOFA) will be issued when new funds become available.
UI may be used for the non-housing component in mixed development projects. For example, a community meeting space or social business venture.
Rate Details
Typically under $100,000 per project.
Term of Service/Length of Grant
N/A
Limitations
UI is limited to areas requiring neighborhood revitalization. Only nonprofit agencies may apply.
Network Notes
Community revitalization through the creation, restoration, preservation or improvement of housing in the locality are considered eligible uses. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate commercial, cultural and civic revitalization initiatives as well. RARP and UI are funded less consistently than most HCR programs. They may, however, be useful for smaller projects looking for stand-alone funding. In fact, to make the application process easier for the many smaller organizations applying, HCR changed the process so that UI/RARP applicants need only complete a streamlined UI/RARP application instead of the more complex Unified Funding Application.
HCR looks favorably on applicants that minimize development and operating costs, pursue energy efficiency, find solutions to mixed-use/mixed-income challenges and resolve interim/permanent relocation issues for occupied project renovations. The UI application process is not competitive; thus, projects are awarded funds based only on eligibility, feasibility and scores awarded in an HCR review process. Funding from UI allows for projects to be eligible for Project-Based Section 8 from HCR.
For More Information
See the UI program website or the latest RFP.
Contact
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Capital District Regional Office Arnon Adler Capital Region contact person Hampton Plaza 38-40 State St., 2nd Floor Albany, NY 12207 Phone: 518-486-5012 Counties Served: Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, and Washington. |
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New York City Regional Office Greg Watson Regional Director 25 Beaver St. New York, New York 10004 Phone: 212-480-7644 Fax: 212-480-7164 Counties Served: Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, and Westchester. |
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Buffalo Regional Office Thomas Van Nortwick Regional Director Electric Tower, Suite 105 535 Washington Street Buffalo, NY 14203 Phone: 716-847-7955 Fax: 716-847-3244 Counties Served: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates. |
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Syracuse Regional Office Daniel Buyer Regional Director 620 Erie Blvd. West, Suite 312 Syracuse, NY 13204 Phone: 315-478-7179 Fax: 315-478-7188 Counties Served: Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Franklin, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Tioga, and Tompkins. |
Last updated: 09/15/2011
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