What's New in Workforce Investment?

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced its intention to launch the Strong Cities, Strong Communities National Resource Network pilot program with its 19 federal agency and subagency partners of the White House Council on Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2).

Through the SC2 National Resource Network, HUD and its partners will offer a "central portal to connect America's most economically distressed local communities to national and local experts with wide-ranging experience and skills. The focus of the SC2 Network will be to strengthen the foundation for economic growth and resiliency in these communities--namely, local capacity, comprehensive planning, and regional collaboration. HUD will offer funding competitively through a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for an intermediary to assist HUD with establishing and administering the program. "

HUD has published a notice today soliciting comment on the proposed structure of the SC2 National Resource Network pilot program, and the criteria by which HUD and its interagency partners will select an intermediary for the pilot program.

Feedback received in response to this notice will "aid HUD and its partners in better understanding how this pilot program may help local communities respond to the strains of the current economic crisis. HUD is seeking input from local governments, philanthropic organizations, private companies, community development entities, and a broad range of other stakeholders on how the program should be structured in order to have the most meaningful impact in rebuilding and growing local government capacity for good governance and economic growth."

Comments are due by July 16.