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Prevention Partnerships for Young Veterans: Local Veteran and Homeless Programs and Resources
The National Veterans Technical Assistance Center (NVTAC) is hosting the webinar “Prevention Partnerships for Young Veterans: Local Veteran and Homeless Programs and Resources” on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 2:00 pm EDT.

Affordable Green Neighborhoods 2016 Grant Recipients Announced
The U.S. Green Building Council, with the support of Bank of America Charitable Foundation grant program, awards funding and provides educational resources to developers of affordable housing

HUD LAUNCHES UTILITY BENCHMARKING IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY AND SAVE COSTS
As outlined in President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today proposed utility benchmarking of water and energy in its portfolio of public and assisted, as well as newly-insured, multifamily housing. This new ‘utility benchmarking’ initiative would apply to approximately 2.2 million units across several categories of HUD-assisted affordable housing: developments with Project Rental Assistance Contracts, multifamily properties with mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), and Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) with more than 250 public housing units

Sentiment Index: U.S. Commercial Real Estate Outlook is Still Positive, Despite Headwinds Around Available Debt
NAIOP has released the latest Sentiment Index based on a survey of member developers, owners and investors on whether their 12-month outlook for commercial real estate development is positive, neutral or negative.

Middle Income Housing Tax Credit Act: Missed Chance to Address Housing Crisis
The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (the Law Center) is concerned that legislation to create a Middle Income Housing Tax Credit (MIHTC), introduced by Senator Ron Wyden on September 22, would focus scarce federal resources on middle income renters – rather than on extremely low income renters – who face the greatest need

Get The Latest Real Estate Development Trends and Industry Forecasts at ULI’s 2016 Fall Meeting in Dallas
Get the latest real estate trends, insights and forecasts at the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) 2016 Fall Meeting, set for October 24-27 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. The meeting will highlight successful business strategies used by rising stars and experienced professionals to thrive in the rapidly changing industry; and it will include programming highlighting Dallas as highly livable, sustainable and globally competitive city.

The Opportunity Project – Unleashing the power of open data to build stronger ladders of opportunity for all Americans
The White House is announcing the expansion of the Opportunity Project and the launch of twenty-nine new digital tools built by companies and non-profit organizations to increase access to opportunity in communities across the country.

District Government Moves to Expedite New School Construction on Walter Reed Campus
Mayor Bowser and U.S. Army take first step to transfer land to ensure District of Columbia International School is built by 2017 school year. Mayor Bowser announced that the District of Columbia and the U.S. Army have agreed to a license agreement on land at the Walter Reed Medical Center

HUD AWARDS $38 MILLION TO FIGHT DISCRIMINATION
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it is awarding $38 million under its Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to confront discriminatory housing practices. HUD’s grants will support some 155 national and local fair housing organizations working to confront violations of the nation’s landmark Fair Housing Act (see grantee list below)

CONSTRUCTION SPENDING HOLDS STEADY IN AUGUST AND IS UP BY NEARLY 5 PERCENT FOR THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF THE YEAR AS DEMAND REMAINS “ROBUST”
Construction spending held steady in August compared to July but is up nearly five percent for the first eight months of the year compared to same period in 2015, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the new spending figures indicates that the industry’s recovery may be at risk and said new investments in the nation’s aging water systems and other infrastructure could help offset declining spending in certain types of private construction.

International WELL Building Institute™ Announces WELL Certification Program Achievements
Two years after the public release of v1 of the WELL Building Standard™ (WELL), the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) announces milestone achievements in the development, growth and expansion of the WELL Certification program. The world’s first building standard focused exclusively on the effects of the built environment on human health and well-being, WELL has brought health and well-being to the forefront of the sustainable building conversation and triggered new innovations in building practices, design and development.

GRESB Updates Green Bond Guidelines for the Real Estate Sector
GRESB, the leading global provider of environmental, social and governance (ESG) data for real assets, today released the 2016 update to the GRESB Green Bond Guidelines for the Real Estate Sector. These Guidelines build on the Green Bond Principles with specific focus on real estate sector market participants originating and/or investing in green property bonds.GBCI Announces New Technology Organization: arc
During the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) International Summit held at the 2016 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) announced a new technology organization called arc.

States

EFC APPROVES $497.5 MILLION IN GRANTS & LOANS TO UPGRADE LOCAL WASTEWATER AND DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS
During, the second quarter of EFC’s fiscal year, commencing in July and ending on September 30, the Board of Directors of the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) has approved $497.5 million in grants and interest-free and low-cost loans to support vital wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects throughout New York State

Durbin Announces $5 Million Investment In Northwest Illinois Transportation Infrastructure
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the cities of Savanna and Rochelle, Illinois have received nearly $5 million through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants to invest in transportation infrastructure projects, boosting economic development and creating jobs throughout the region.

The Coachella Valley Housing Coalition and local volunteers to help build Community Gardens in Indio as part of its Healthy Housing Initiative
The Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC) has received a $15,200 grant from Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation (Rural LISC) to support its Volunteer-Driven Community Gardens Program in Indio, part of CVHC’s Healthy Housing Initiative

Wicker, Cochran, & Kelly Announce a $2.0 Million USDA Loan for Winston Co. Medical Center Reconstruction
U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Thad Cochran, R-Miss., and U.S. Representative Trent Kelly, R-Miss., today announced that reconstruction of a new Winston County Medical Center in Louisville will benefit from the approval of a $2.0 million, zer…

Gov. Malloy Announces $55 Million in Funding to Advance Development of Affordable Housing Across the State
Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) Commissioner Evonne M. Klein, and Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) Executive Director Karl F. Kilduff today announced that the State of Connecticut is awarding over $55 mill…

Mayor Landrieu, City Officials and Homelessness Service Providers Announce Plans to Establish a Low Barrier Shelter for the Homeless
Mayor Mitch Landrieu joined City officials and local homelessness service providers to announce plans to establish a low barrier shelter for the homeless at 3101 Erato St. The shelter will be available for those in need of immediate housing, particularly for those who have had challenges accessing services. Utilization of a low barrier shelter is considered a national best practice and in line with the City’s Housing First strategy outlined

Albany, Douglasville, Perry, Porterdale and Rincon “Graduate” from Georgia Initiative for Community Housing Program
Local leaders from the cities of Albany, Douglasville, Perry, Porterdale and Rincon were recognized for their communities’ completion of the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) program at the annual retreat held September 20-22 in Gainesville.