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Government Affairs, NARGet ‘smart’: Apply for NAR funding
The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) offers two grant programs to help local associations/boards maximize their potential regarding smart growth and housing opportunity programs.
This blog will focus on the Smart Growth Grant program; check in next week for information on Housing Opportunity Fund Grants.
Smart Growth Grants are available to implement programs and activities that position REALTORS® as leaders in improving their communities by advancing smart growth. The grants can be used to develop a community planning workshop, support green building activities, or to help local government develop energy efficiency policies for your community.
Several of our local associations have received funding through a Smart Growth Grant.
The Pen-Mar Association of REALTORS® was awarded a grant to produce a series of classes on smart growth. All of the classes, which were held in fall 2007, qualified for CE credits from the Maryland and Pennsylvania Real Estate Commissions.
“The classes enhanced our standing with the local elected officials, who were impressed we were interested enough in the subject to dedicate the time to put together the curriculum,” says Tamar Osterman, Pen-Mar Government Affairs Director.
The REALTORS® Association of York and Adams Counties (RAYAC) received funding to support the association’s effort, as part of a coalition, to address growth concerns in the area.
“There were lots of discussions in our community regarding open space, affordable housing, and development,” says Shanna Wiest, RAYAC Government Affairs Director. “All of these discussions were taking place separately, but we needed to have them all together.”
RAYAC took the lead in forming the York/Adams Regional Smart Growth Coalition. The Coalition invited other groups to join, and together developed a model Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) ordinance that the 72 local governments within the county can adopt.
As part of the 2009 funding cycle, the Lehigh Valley Association of REALTORS® (LVAR) recently received a grant to work jointly with Renew Lehigh Valley, a regional smart growth organization, to convene a community forum on restoring passenger rail in the Lehigh Valley.
“REALTORS® do more than just sell homes, they also help build communities,” notes Ryan Conrad, LVAR Government Affairs Director.
The forum will follow on the completion of a study – currently being conducted under the auspices of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, Lehigh and Northampton Counties, and the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission – on the feasibility of establishing passenger rail linking the Lehigh Valley’s cities (Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton) and connecting to other regions.
The study is expected to be completed in early 2010, with the community forum to commence shortly thereafter.
NAR considers applications twice per year, and have already awarded one set of grants for 2009. But there’s still time for your association/board to submit an application for the second round of grants. Applications are due by October 2. The maximum amount available to any one association is $5,000 in any given grant cycle.
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About Jennifer: Jennifer Shockley is the Assistant Director of Government Affairs at the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS®. |
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