Today the Tri-State Transportation Campaign and the One Region Funders’ Group announced a new community assistance grant program to encourage transit-oriented development (TOD) by offering financial support to municipalities ready to address the linkages between affordable housing, energy efficiency, and development near transit stations.
Foundations participating in the One Region Funders’ Group and contributing toward this initiative include the Fairfield County Community Foundation, Long Island Community Foundation, New York Community Trust, Rauch Foundation, Surdna Foundation, Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, and Westchester Community Foundation. The Fund for New Jersey is supporting the New Jersey program.
Tri-State also announced an online TOD clearinghouse as a complement to the program and a resource for those interested in pursuing transit oriented development.
Up to ten small grants will be awarded to communities across downstate New York and Connecticut. Up to five grants will be awarded in New Jersey.
In a press release announcing the program, Mark M. Murphy, President of The Fund for New Jersey said, “We hope this program pioneers new directions in transit-oriented development by supporting projects that are more inclusive of affordable housing, LEED certified buildings, and energy efficiency.”
Yolanda Caldera-Durant, Program Director at the Fairfield County Community Foundation and a participating member of the One Region Funders’ Group said, “Our lifestyles, environment, and economy are changing daily. We believe these grants give communities the boost they need to plan for more equitable and environmentally sound futures that are really important given the challenging economic times that we are currently facing.”
The program fills a void in New York and Connecticut, where formal transit-oriented development programs have been slow to materialize. In New Jersey, the program will complement the existing transit village program and encourage projects to include affordable housing and green building design.
RFPs: Downstate New York/Connecticut | New Jersey
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