(GREEN BUILDING) Homebuilders Rally against Clean Energy Legislation:  Despite its own pronounced movement toward green building, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is the latest opponent to ambitious climate control legislation generating debate on Capitol Hill. The House last week passed the American Cl...  Read More  07/03/2009 2:29 PM

(ARRA) MT Using CDBG-R Funds to Aid Timber, Wood Product Industries:  Montana state officials are looking to use most of the $1.8 million it receives in Community Development Block Grant stimulus package funds (CDBG-R) to ensure that timber and wood product industries survive. The CDBG-R funds will be one of three fun...  Read More  07/03/2009 2:20 PM

(STIMULUS) Treasury Sends ARRA Funds, Technical Aid to Native CDFIs:  The Treasury Dept. provides $8 million in financial aid to 10 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) serving economically distressed Native American, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian communities and more than $3 million in technical a...  Read More  07/02/2009 7:12 PM

(NATIVE GROUPS) CDFI Fund Offers 5-Year Strategic Plan for Native Community Growth:  Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) will grow and gain new avenues to capital if a new Treasury Dept. five-year strategic plan bears fruit. CDFI Director Donna Gambrell announced the new plan at a CDFI Fund award ceremony in ...  Read More  07/02/2009 6:56 PM

(REPORTING) OIG Says DRGR Adequate for HUD to Monitor NSP-1:  The increase in reporting for the recent stimulus packages is causing state and local officials a little more work, but the Office of Inspector General (OIG) says the tool chosen to monitor the first phase of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program cr...  Read More  07/02/2009 6:43 PM

(HOMEOWNERSHIP) HUD Expands Making Home Affordable Program Participation:  HUD is trying to expand participation in its home refinancing program by allowing Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae borrowers who are current on properties that have mortgages 25% greater than their home values. Secy. Shaun Donovan makes the announcement e...  Read More  07/02/2009 12:39 PM

(TAX CREDITS) States Awarded $1 Billion in HUD TCAP Funds:  HUD approves plans to produce thousands of affordable housing units by 26 state housing agencies using a tax credit mechanism created in the most recent economic stimulus package. The $1 billion in formula-based credits issued June 30 are a portion ...  Read More  06/30/2009 7:01 PM

(TEXAS) Tarrant County to Pass on Filing NSP-2 Application:  Tarrant County, TX officials say they are going to pass on seeking funds for the second round of Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP-2) money. About $2 billion is available through the federal government for phase two of the program, which was c...  Read More  06/30/2009 6:10 PM

(TEXAS) Fort Worth Suburb Using CDBG-R Funds on Water, Sewer Systems:  Tarrant County, TX officials are using nearly all of the $950,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding coming from the most-recent federal stimulus package to improve local water and sewer systems. Tarrant County, which has Fort Worth as its...  Read More  06/30/2009 2:38 PM

(CDFI) Treasury Pumps $90 Million in ARRA Funds to CDFIs Nationwide:  Community Development Financial Institutions in 26 states and Puerto Rico receive a combined $90 million in stimulus package grant awards to boost communities hit by the economic downturn. Treasury Secy. Tim Geithner makes the announcement June 29 i...  Read More  06/29/2009 6:24 PM