Green Communities offers Charrette Grants for up to $5,000 to assist housing developers with integrating green building systems in their developments and engage in a serious discussion of green design possibilities, Enterprise will award planning grants to affordable housing developers to coordinate green charrettes.
Before submitting an application, applicants are advised to review information posted on the website and to request the Green Communities Criteria and technical manual, which incorporate design criteria for locating on “smart” sites, conserving natural resources and promoting healthy living environments. These Green Communities Criteria define the minimum requirements for Green Communities projects and can be used as a guide for the Green Communities charrette process.
- Overview
- Eligible Applicants
- Target Projects
- Intended Uses of Funds
- Grant Amounts
- Grant Application and Approval Process
- Green Development Plan Template
- Reporting Charrette Results to Enterprise
- Application
- Facilitator Registry
- Contact Us
A Green Communities Charrette will involve an intense working session that will bring together a diverse group of housing development professionals as well as funders, policymakers and community stakeholders where possible to integrate sustainable green design principles into affordable housing developments. Charrettes will take into consideration the existing community context by using a holistic and total-systems approach to the development process to promote health and livability throughout the life cycle of the development.
Green Charrettes offer affordable housing developers the opportunity to green affordable residential developments during the schematic. By supporting charrettes at the schematic design phase, Enterprise aims to help developers establish green goals as early as possible so that the most cost-effective green strategies can be incorporated in the building and site plans through the establishment of a Green Development Plan. We believe that an integrated approach to the design of affordable residential communities is essential to assuring that the development responds to its environment, the cultural context of the existing neighborhood, the needs of the residents, and economic realities.
- Open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, tribally designated housing entities; and for-profit entities participating through joint ventures with qualified organizations.
- Please note that applications for joint ventures must identify the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization as the legal entity to receive the grant, if awarded funding.
- The applicant and the development team must demonstrate their qualifications to successfully carry out the proposed development.
- Projects must be subject to firm site control or evidence that site control is imminent. Applicant must identify whether proposed project site is an occupied or unoccupied property.
- Projects must involve new construction of residential units or rehab at an estimated cost of $3,000 or more per unit.
- Projects applying for pre-development charrette funds must be in the early stages of planning or schematic design phase of development. Projects applying for post-development charrette funds must be complete and occupied.
Funds may be used to cover the cost of conducting a Green Communities charrette or training. Expenses include: pre-qualified consultant fee for facilitation; consultant travel costs, not to exceed $1,000; meeting preparation costs, such as creating invitations, meeting and follow-up materials, venue and program support time all not to exceed a combined total of $800. Food is not an allowable expense.
In general, the maximum grant amount will be $5,000.
- Review the Green Communities Charrette Grant Guidelines listed above.
- Select facilitator (Enterprise will provide recommendations if desired) if the facilitator is not listed in the registry, applicant must provide a qualification checklist for consultant. When contracting with a facilitator, Enterprise will provide grantee with a sample consultant contract template, if necessary.
- Submit Green Communities charrette grant application. At application stage, applicants must identify the development goals and facilitator.
- Receive word that the grant has been approved, denied or approved with conditions. Because funds are limited, Enterprise will reserve the right to negotiate with grant applicants to determine the highest and best use of Green Communities grants in a specific project.
- Execute a Grant Agreement with Enterprise.
- Charrette applications are reviewed once per month. Applicants will be notified within 4-6 weeks after submission.
The purpose of this template is to provide a teaching tool -a guide for the developer - to utilize the integrated design process. This Template is provided to help address all critical issues and to provide ready-formatted documentation for the Green Development Plan. (Excel, 56K).
An integrated design process incorporates sustainability up-front, uses a holistic and total-systems approach to the development process, and promotes good health and livability through the building's life cycle. The goal is to establish a written commitment that informs the project's objectives through the building's life cycle.
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Upon requesting disbursement of grant funds, grantees must provide the following information:
- A copy of the agenda, attendee list and meeting notes of the Charrette.
- The Green Development Plan template referenced above to be completed at the time of the Charrette.
- A Grant Disbursement Request documentation provided within the Grant Agreement signed by an authorized representative of the organization.
There are several steps involved in a Green Grant application. It's important to first review the Green Communities Criteria
If you would like to apply for a grant:
Go to the funding application instructions page >>>
Facilitator Registry
Currently, Enterprise is developing a Pre-Qualified Facilitator Registry which will enable applicants to choose an experienced consultant to facilitate their Green Charrette or training.
If you are interested in participating in this exciting new program and would like to be included in this Registry, download the registration form. (Word, 292K).
For more specific information about these grant guidelines or other aspects of Green Communities, please contact us.
