Flint among national finalists for $30M HUD grant

Flint is vying for a multi-million-dollar federal grant to add affordable housing and improve neighborhoods, city officials announced Wednesday.

A team including Flint Housing Commission, Norstar Development USA, Mott Community College and the Flint & Genesee Literacy Network submitted an application in November to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for its Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants, coordinators said in a statement.

They sought $30 million to implement the South Flint Community Plan. Developed over nearly three years and dovetailing with long-term goals in the city, the plan aims to develop more than 300 mixed-income housing and relocate residents of the distressed Atherton East Townhomes, according to the release.

The grant also would allow the city and its partners to improve residents’ access to health, education and economic stability services for south Flint residents.

On Wednesday, HUD announced the city is among six finalists out of 20 applicants nationwide ranked on how well their vision, capacity, and need addressed Choice Neighborhoods’ three core goals.

“We are very excited to see this opportunity becoming more of a reality for Flint,” said Suzanne Wilcox, director of Planning and Development for the city. “Our team submitted a comprehensive, quality proposal, and I am pleased that HUD recognizes the thought, effort and collaborative teamwork that went into the application.”

The department is slated to announce the recipients by July.

“This is wonderful news for Flint,” Mayor Karen Weaver said. “We look forward to making sure our HUD site visit is a success and helps to secure our spot as a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grantee.”