The California Department of Housing and Community Development today announced Infill Infrastructure Grant Program of 2019 (IIG) awards to 25 projects that will support development of 1,661 new homes in 15 California counties.

“Empty lots and vacant buildings in cities throughout our state could be transformed into much-needed housing; Californians literally cannot afford for us to ignore these opportunities,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom. “Today, we’re providing tens of millions of dollars to California communities to begin building new homes on infill properties.”

Today’s awards are being made from a set-aside in the NOFA for qualifying infill projects in “small jurisdictions”—those California counties with a population of 250,000 or less. IIG promotes infill housing development by providing gap financing in the form of grants for capital improvements needed to make residential or mixed-use development possible in urbanized areas. Project types include: sewer pipelines; traffic mitigation; curbs, gutters, and sidewalks; playgrounds and urban greening; pedestrian and bicycle trails and lighting; potable water systems and stormwater retention systems.

“These investments in vital infrastructure improvements will jump-start housing construction to serve households most in need,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss. “Through these improvements we can reduce our carbon emissions and increase the availability of housing more quickly and efficiently, removing barriers to the development and preservation of smart, climate-friendly housing near jobs, transit, and key neighborhood amenities.”

“You cannot expand housing without building out infrastructure that supports such growth,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “These awards help smaller counties meet the housing needs of residents without overburdening roads and utility systems and build healthy, sustainable communities connected to safe and inviting outdoor spaces.”

The grants awarded today will support capital improvement projects in the following California counties with populations of less than 250,000 people: Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Humboldt, Kings, Imperial, Madera, San Benito, Shasta, Sutter, Tehama, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba.

Unlike the competitive NOFA process for large jurisdictions, small jurisdiction IIG awards are made through an over-the-counter process, where applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis and awarded if they pass the eligibility threshold while funds remain.

HCD received 32 applications for nearly $97.8 million from the $94.2 million 2023 IIG Small Jurisdiction NOFA, an oversubscription of $3.6 million.

Visit HCD online to learn more about the Infill Infrastructure Grant Program and the projects awarded today.