Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) recently re-introduced the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Act of 2013 (S. 437), which would fully authorize the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) program and allocate $350 million in FY 2013. The goal of CNI is to transform communities and revitalize neighborhoods of extreme poverty into sustainable, mixed-income neighborhoods with access to high-quality education and economic opportunities. The measure focuses on funding the revitalization of severely distressed housing, and investing and leveraging investments in well-functioning services, education opportunities, public assets, public transportation, and improved access to jobs.  Since FY 2010, HUD has awarded over $240 million in grants to 54 cities and counties across the country through the Choice Neighborhood Initiative.  S. 437 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Click here to read S. 437.