HUD Officials Highlight Climate Resilience Funding Opportunities in Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands

By klrw460 April 19, 2024

This week in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) organized a bilingual roundtable to discuss the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP). The event attracted over 150 stakeholders from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands who were briefed on GRRP and additional federal funding options for enhancing property energy efficiency and climate resilience.

HUD officials detailed the grant and loan opportunities available through GRRP and related programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. These initiatives aim to increase energy efficiency and weather resilience in multifamily properties involved in HUD’s project-based rental assistance programs nationwide, thus improving living conditions for residents. They also provided insights on award types, eligibility criteria, and the application process for funding.

As a key component of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, the GRRP was launched in 2022 under the Inflation Reduction Act to foster energy efficiency and climate resilience within HUD’s rental assistance portfolio. To date, the program has allocated approximately $544 million, half of its total funds, to about 109 properties in 36 states and the District of Columbia, impacting over 12,500 households.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing Programs, Ethan Handelman, emphasized, “The Green and Resilient Retrofit Program is instrumental in enhancing properties and fortifying communities nationwide. We are dedicated to improving living conditions for low-income households and are eager to further these efforts through GRRP.”

The GRRP is HUD’s pioneer program that invests concurrently in energy efficiency, renewable energy, climate resilience, and sustainable materials in HUD-supported multifamily housing. It supports affordable housing for low-income families in line with the Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, covering a range of retrofit needs from basic insulation and energy-efficient installations to comprehensive climate resilience and renewable energy solutions.

The program details various funding avenues through its Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which outline the criteria for different types of funding:

  • Elements funding supports proven resilience and efficiency measures for properties being recapitalized.
  • Leading Edge funding assists ambitious retrofit projects aiming for zero energy outcomes and advanced green certification.
  • Comprehensive funding is available for properties with significant needs for resilience and efficiency enhancements, regardless of previous retrofitting experience.

For more information, read the original press release from: https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_24_083