Bend secures major HUD grant to tackle community barriers

Bend, Oregon, has achieved a significant milestone by securing a competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), becoming one of only 21 awardees across the United States and the District of Columbia. This grant, which is the first of its kind from HUD, aims to help cities identify and address barriers to housing and development.

During a recent government meeting, officials celebrated the announcement, highlighting the competitive nature of the grant process, which saw 175 applications submitted. Bend's selection underscores the city's ongoing efforts to remove barriers and make substantial progress in housing development. Solomon Green, the principal deputy assistant secretary for policy development and research at HUD, noted that the grant is intended for cities that have made significant strides but still have work to do.

Bend was the sole recipient from Oregon, and the funding will allow the city to reevaluate its initial project proposal, which requested $10 million. The city will now work on scaling down the project to fit the awarded amount of $5 million, taking into account changes in the market and internal developments since the application was submitted.

The meeting also featured a celebratory check presentation, which included a community event that closed down streets to mark the occasion. Officials expressed gratitude to the community members and partners who contributed to the city’s successful application.

As Bend moves forward with the grant, city leaders emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and planning to maximize the impact of the funding. More updates are expected as the city begins the next phase of its project development.