Register for the League’s SB 2 Planning Grant Program Webinar
Mar 10, 2019
SB 2 Planning Grant Program experts from the office of Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins, California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), PLACEWORKS, and the Institute of Local Government will be presenting on how cities can receive funding and technical assistance.
Register online for the SB 2 Planning Grant webinar will be available later this week.
SB 2 Planning Grant Program
Starting this spring, cities can apply for funding through the SB 2 Planning Grants Program to update general plans, community plans, specific plans, local planning related to implementation of sustainable community strategies or local coastal plans.
The purpose of this program is to provide funding and technical assistance to local governments in California to help prepare, adopt and implement plans and process improvements that streamline housing approvals and accelerate housing production.
SB 2 (Atkins) aimed at addressing the state’s housing shortage and high housing costs by establishing a permanent funding source for affordable housing. Half of the funding generated in year one will be available to local governments through noncompetitive grants. The year two funding will allocate 70 percent of the funding towards local governments for affordable housing purposes. A large portion of year two allocations will be allocated using the same formula used to allocate federal Community Development Block Grants.
The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for year one will be released in early April or late March 2019. Funding will go out to cities beginning in summer 2019, and the SB 2 Planning Grants Program Year One Guidelines are available for review now.
What Can This Funding Be Used for?
Eligible activities may include:
The revenues from SB 2 will vary from year to year, as they are dependent on a variety of real estate transactions with fluctuating activity. Therefore, the minimum and maximum award amounts may be adjusted. Currently, the fees are estimated to generate approximately $250 million per year.
The minimum award is $25,000.
The maximum award amount will be adjusted on a sliding scale based on population estimates from the Department of Finance as follows:
The program will provide grants to cities and counties through a noncompetitive process to those localities that can demonstrate that their eligible activity has a nexus to accelerating housing production.
Eligible applicants must meet these requirements:
Partnerships
Local governments can also partner with other localities, regional governments, housing authorities, school districts, special districts, community based organizations, or any duly constituted governing body of an Indian Reservation. Applicants seeking partnerships with other local governments will be additive. For example, two large localities could submit a proposal for up to $1,000,000.
Application Review
Applicants must submit an application to be eligible for funding. An application form will be available upon release of the NOFA and will include forms to demonstrate meeting threshold requirements, a proposed budget and timeline, and a request for letters of support from key stakeholders and decision-makers in the adoption process.
Funding Allocation Timeline
Planning Grants to Cities (50 percent of funds)
Release of Final Guidelines - January 2019
Release of Notice of Funding Availability - Spring 2019
Homelessness Grants from the State (50 percent of funds)
Release of Notice of Funding Availability from CESH program - Spring 2019
Release of NOFA from HHC program - Spring 2019
Local Funds (70 percent of Annual Total in Year Two and Beyond)
Initiate Public Outreach - Fall 2018
Development of Guidelines - Spring 2019
Release of Notice of Funding Availability - Summer 2019
Technical Assistance
HCD is in the final stages of securing a team from organizations, including ILG, which will be providing technical assistance to local governments that will range from tool kits and model ordinances to grant writing and administration, as well as onsite technical assistance.
Register online for the SB 2 Planning Grant webinar will be available later this week.
SB 2 Planning Grant Program
Starting this spring, cities can apply for funding through the SB 2 Planning Grants Program to update general plans, community plans, specific plans, local planning related to implementation of sustainable community strategies or local coastal plans.
The purpose of this program is to provide funding and technical assistance to local governments in California to help prepare, adopt and implement plans and process improvements that streamline housing approvals and accelerate housing production.
SB 2 (Atkins) aimed at addressing the state’s housing shortage and high housing costs by establishing a permanent funding source for affordable housing. Half of the funding generated in year one will be available to local governments through noncompetitive grants. The year two funding will allocate 70 percent of the funding towards local governments for affordable housing purposes. A large portion of year two allocations will be allocated using the same formula used to allocate federal Community Development Block Grants.
The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for year one will be released in early April or late March 2019. Funding will go out to cities beginning in summer 2019, and the SB 2 Planning Grants Program Year One Guidelines are available for review now.
What Can This Funding Be Used for?
Eligible activities may include:
- Updates to general plans, community plans, specific plans, local planning related to implementation of sustainable community strategies or local coastal plans;
- Updates to zoning ordinances;
- Environmental analyses that eliminate the need for project-specific review; and
- Local process improvements that expedite local planning and permitting.
The revenues from SB 2 will vary from year to year, as they are dependent on a variety of real estate transactions with fluctuating activity. Therefore, the minimum and maximum award amounts may be adjusted. Currently, the fees are estimated to generate approximately $250 million per year.
The minimum award is $25,000.
The maximum award amount will be adjusted on a sliding scale based on population estimates from the Department of Finance as follows:
- $500,000 for large localities (greater than 200,000 people);
- $250,000 for medium localities (60,000 to 200,000 people); and
- $125,000 for small localities (less than 60,000 people).
The program will provide grants to cities and counties through a noncompetitive process to those localities that can demonstrate that their eligible activity has a nexus to accelerating housing production.
Eligible applicants must meet these requirements:
- Have an HCD-compliant housing element;
- Have submitted a recent Annual Progress report;
- Must demonstrate a nexus to accelerating housing production; and
- Must demonstrate that the applicant is consistent with State Planning Priorities or other planning priorities.
Partnerships
Local governments can also partner with other localities, regional governments, housing authorities, school districts, special districts, community based organizations, or any duly constituted governing body of an Indian Reservation. Applicants seeking partnerships with other local governments will be additive. For example, two large localities could submit a proposal for up to $1,000,000.
Application Review
Applicants must submit an application to be eligible for funding. An application form will be available upon release of the NOFA and will include forms to demonstrate meeting threshold requirements, a proposed budget and timeline, and a request for letters of support from key stakeholders and decision-makers in the adoption process.
Funding Allocation Timeline
Planning Grants to Cities (50 percent of funds)
Release of Final Guidelines - January 2019
Release of Notice of Funding Availability - Spring 2019
Homelessness Grants from the State (50 percent of funds)
Release of Notice of Funding Availability from CESH program - Spring 2019
Release of NOFA from HHC program - Spring 2019
Local Funds (70 percent of Annual Total in Year Two and Beyond)
Initiate Public Outreach - Fall 2018
Development of Guidelines - Spring 2019
Release of Notice of Funding Availability - Summer 2019
Technical Assistance
HCD is in the final stages of securing a team from organizations, including ILG, which will be providing technical assistance to local governments that will range from tool kits and model ordinances to grant writing and administration, as well as onsite technical assistance.