HUD's Sustainable Communities Initiative Recognized for Innovation

One of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Programs, which Summit supports, has been recognized for innovation and excellence. This year, HUD’s Sustainable Communities Initiative was recognized by Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in the Innovations in American Government Award competition. Summit is pleased to be associated with HUD’s Initiative.

The awards aim to recognize and promote programs that demonstrate creativity and excellence within the public sector. The Sustainable Communities Initiative works to incentivize American builders and property owners to develop or update properties in innovative, energy-efficient ways. Summit specifically assists with the Initiative’s Community Challenge and Regional Grant Programs, which provided grants to over 140 communities throughout the U.S. to create plans for sustainable urban development through an innovative, cross-sectoral, cross-jurisdictional, and publicly-inclusive process.

As part of the effort, Summit provides program evaluation and technical assistance to assess the progress and outcomes of planning efforts for which funds are awarded. Our team also evaluates the overall success of the grant programs in achieving HUD’s goals and objectives with the Initiative. We do this through data collection, site visits to communities, and development and execution of analytical methodologies.

Congratulations, HUD!