REAP 2

Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) Grants of 2021

 

The Regional Early Action Planning Grants of 2021 (REAP 2.0) are a key part of the state’s strategic investments toward a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future.

 

REAP 2.0 builds on the success of REAP 2019, but expands the program focus by integrating housing and climate goals, and allowing for broader planning and implementation investments (including infrastructural investments that support infill development which facilitates housing supply, choice, and affordability).

 

 

Background

 

REAP 2.0 is a flexible program that seeks to accelerate progress towards our state housing goals and climate commitments through a strengthened partnership between the state, its regions, and local entities. REAP 2.0 seeks to accelerate infill housing development, reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), increase housing supply at all affordability levels, affirmatively further fair housing, and facilitate the implementation of adopted regional and local plans to achieve these goals.

 

REAP 2.0 will be administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR), the Strategic Growth Council (SGC), and the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

 

REAP 2.0 provides a $600 million investment to advance implementation of adopted regional plans by funding planning and implementation activities that accelerate infill housing and reductions in per capita Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT).

This new program was established as part of the 2021 California Comeback Plan under AB 140.

 

 

Eligible Applicants

 

Most of the program’s funding (85 percent, or $510 million) will flow directly to the state’s 18 Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), and the MPOs may subgrant a portion of the funds to eligible entities (cities, counties, transit/transportation agencies) in their metropolitan region. The remaining funds are split into a set aside for tribal entities and for eligible entities in smaller counties in non-MPO regions (5 percent, or $30 million), as well as for a Higher Impact Transformative set aside for all eligible entities (5 percent, or $30 million).

 

 

Eligible Activities

 

This is a flexible program. Funds can be utilized for planning efforts, or for implementing existing plans, as they relate to housing and infrastructure to support new housing.

All REAP 2.0 applications must satisfy both housing and VMT reduction goals while emphasizing the nexus between housing and climate change in ways that advance equity and improve underlying social and health vulnerabilities that may have contributed to more severe public health outcomes of the pandemic.
 

  • Statute does specify the following broad categories of eligible uses, though the program does allow some flexibility, and proposed uses must demonstrate a nexus to all program objectives:
     
    • Accelerating infill housing development
       
    • Realizing multimodal communities
       
    • Shifting travel behavior by reducing driving
       
    • Increasing transit ridership
       
  • See REAP 2.0 Final Guidelines for more information\

 


Application Program Components

 

The following are some of the application program components (please refer to the REAP 2 Guidelines for additional detail):


1. An identification of priorities utilizing outreach that reflects Program goals and objectives and consideration of inter- and intra-regional coordination, geographic equity, appropriate blends of planning and implementation activities, amount retained by the Eligible Entity versus suballocations, eligible uses (e.g., technical assistance and other activities, accelerating Infill development that facilitates Housing supply, choice, and affordability) and the goals of suballocations in a manner that addresses the unique needs of the region related to Housing, land use, transportation, climate change, equity, and other planning priorities;

 

2. An allocation budget for the funds; 

 

3. The amounts retained by the Eligible Entity and any suballocations; 

 

4. An explanation of how the Proposed Uses will meet the definition of Transformative Planning and Implementation Activities and, as applicable, constitute high-impact and innovative projects; 

 

5. An explanation of how the Proposed Uses will implement and achieve Housing goals that also reduce VMT;

 

6. An explanation of how each Proposed Use has a geographic or region-wide benefit;

 

7. An explanation of how each Proposed Use focuses implementation in areas that satisfy an applicable definition of Infill development (See Attachment 2: Definitions);

 

8. The application shall reference one or more of the following categories of allowable uses of the funds;

 

  1. Accelerating Infill development that facilitates Housing supply, choice, and affordability;
  2. Supporting residents through realizing Multimodal Communities.
  3. Reducing driving through shifting travel behavior.
  4. Increasing transit ridership. 

9. An explanation of the targeted outreach the Eligible Entity has conducted to Disadvantaged and Historically Underserved Communities and how that outreach was incorporated into the Proposed Uses; 
 

10. An explanation of how Proposed Uses will advance equity by benefiting Disadvantaged and Historically Underserved Communities; 

 

11. The link to the applicant’s webpage where land use maps and vehicle miles traveled generation maps, as available, are publicly accessible;

 

12. The Department may request additional information and documentation as appropriate; and 

 

13. The Department may consult with and gather relevant information from any individual, entity, or public agency

For additional information, please see the:



Additional Information

 

For additional information, please see the:

 

Tribal and Rural Allocation Regional Early Action Planning Grants of 2021

(REAP 2.0) Final Guidelines for the Tribal and Rural Allocation