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Housing

Metropolitan Council Awards Grants to 11 Cities in Twin Cities Metropolitan Region

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Metropolitan Council has awarded grants to 11 cities in the seven-county region to increase the supply of affordable housing, help cities update their zoning codes and ordinances, and utilize new state funding and develop new locally administered housing programs. The grants total $1,311,000 for pre-development planning and policy and program development. These grants will fund foundational planning and policy creation that leads to more affordable housing, development that better connects people to transit, jobs, and open space, and meets other regional goals.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Metropolitan Council awarded grants to 11 cities in the seven-county region to increase the supply of affordable housing, help cities update their zoning codes and ordinances, and utilize new state funding and develop new locally administered housing programs.
  • The grants total $1,311,000 for pre-development planning and policy and program development.
  • Four pre-development grants were awarded from the Livable Communities (LCA) program, with a total of $698,000 awarded to the City of Brooklyn Center, City of Columbia Heights, Roseville Economic Development Authority, and City of Saint Paul.
  • The proposed projects will create a total of 290 affordable housing units, including 248 apartments affordable to households earning 60% of area median income and 42 for-sale townhomes.
  • The grants will also support the development of new housing programs and policies, including a policy to guide use of state Local Affordable Housing Aid funds and a program to support low-income homeowners with critical home maintenance needs.
  • The funding for the grants comes from the Livable Communities (LCA) program and a grant awarded to the Metropolitan Council in 2024 by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development under its Pathways to Removing Obstacles (PRO) Housing program.

Statistics:

  • Total amount awarded: $1,311,000
  • Number of communities awarded grants: 11
  • Number of grants awarded for pre-development planning: 4
  • Total amount awarded for pre-development planning: $698,000
  • Number of affordable housing units to be created: 290
  • Number of apartments affordable to households earning 60% of area median income: 248
  • Number of for-sale townhomes: 42
  • Funding source: Livable Communities (LCA) program and Pathways to Removing Obstacles (PRO) Housing program

Sources:

  • Metropolitan Council, "Livable Communities Act Grants Awarded to 11 Cities in Twin Cities Metropolitan Region" (no date)
  • Metropolitan Council, "Livable Communities Act Grants Awarded to 11 Cities in Twin Cities Metropolitan Region" (no date)

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