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Program Overview
Eligible Activities
Eligible Applicants
NOFA
Timeline
Reporting & Compliance
Resources

Increasing the availability of affordable homes statewide is critical to bettering the quality of life of all Californians and to ending homelessness.

In the 2019-20 Budget Act, Governor Gavin Newsom allocated $250 million for all regions, cities, and counties to do their part by prioritizing planning activities that accelerate housing production to meet identified needs of every community. HCD established the Regional Early Action Planning Grant Program (REAP) with the $125 million allocation to regions.

Program Overview

REAP provides one-time grant funding to regional governments and regional entities for planning activities that will accelerate housing production and facilitate compliance in implementing the sixth cycle of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation.

The 2019-20 Budget Act provides a spectrum of support, incentives, resources, and accountability to meet California’s housing goals. Some specific elements include:

  • Local and regional planning grants (LEAP and REAP)
  • Prohousing preference points on competitive funding applications
  • Additional funding resources
  • Accountability (penalties for noncompliant housing plans)
  • Reform (collaborative processes to reform regional housing needs)

For cities or counties – The Budget Act created a planning grant program specifically for cities and counties that is like the SB2 Planning Grants Program. This new program is referred to as the Local Early Action Planning Grants (LEAP). For more information on LEAP, please visit the Local Early Action Planning Grant page.

Eligible Activities

Eligible activities must be related to housing planning and facilitate the streamlining and acceleration of housing production. Eligible activities conducted by applicants must fall under one or more of the following main categories:

  1. Developing an improved methodology for the distribution of the sixth cycle regional housing needs assessment (RHNA).
  2. Sub-allocating funds directly and equitably to jurisdictions or sub-regional entities in the form of planning grants that will accommodate the development of housing and infrastructure that accelerate housing production.
  3. Providing jurisdictions and other local agencies with technical assistance, planning, temporary staffing or consultant needs associated with updating local planning and zoning documents, expediting application processing, and other actions to accelerate additional housing production.
  4. Administrative costs related to the three main categories listed above.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are limited to COGs, multiagency working groups, and counties not represented by COGs or working groups, as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 50515.02.
29 Potential Regional Entities

  1. Councils of Government
  2. Multiagency Working Groups
  3. Other COGs, Jurisdictions, or Consortia

A COG or a fiscal agent of a multiagency working group may request up to 25% of the funding available in advance of the NOFA and full application.

Notice of Funding

Timeline

  • NOFA Release: February 2020
  • Application Deadline: January 31, 2021
  • Deadline to Submit Remittance Request to HCD: June 30, 2024
  • HCD Expenditure Deadline: December 31, 2024
  • Technical Assistance: April 2020 - 2024

Reporting & Compliance

REAP Annual Report

The annual report must be submitted to HCD by April 1 of the year following receipt of funds and annually thereafter until funds are expended.

REAP Annual Report Template (DOC)

REAP Close Out Report

Upon completion of all deliverables within the Standard Agreement, the awardee shall submit a close out report.

REAP Close Out Reporting Form (DOC)

Awardees who have completed all deliverables and are ready to close out, please contact reap@hcd.ca.gov.

Submitted REAP 1.0 Reports

Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG): $23,966,861 award with $11 million in direct grants distributed to 109 Bay Area jurisdictions to support 6th Cycle Housing Element updates. Funds were also used for a robust technical assistance program which included more than 300 technical assistance products, live trainings, model ordinances and checklists, various online tools, as well as workgroups and planning collaboratives.

Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG): $7,931,331 award used to facilitate 6th Cycle Housing Element compliance, ADU and inclusionary housing policy updates, and technical assistance. A portion of funds was also suballocated to counties in the region.

Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG): $882,783 award used to develop pre-approved ADU plans and move forward with a variety of projects throughout the county including infrastructure improvements, an Environmental Impact Report, and annexation plans.

County of Amador: $444,004 award used for rezoning activities, upgraded county’s GIS system, and launched the Mother Lode ADU Collaborative website/guidebook which included pre-approved ADU plans.

County of Calaveras: $200,964 award used to increase ADUs in the county. Work included support of the Mother Lode ADU collaborative, creation of county-specific ADU standards, tools, and website.

County of Del Norte: $200,970 award used to implement the county’s first online building permit program including digitizing historic files. Funds were also suballocated to a city which implemented an online planning and building permit system.

County of Inyo: $121,517 award used for vacant lands project which included inventory review and an Environmental Impact Report, also conducted a Vehicles Miles Traveled study, and completed select upzoning.

County of Mariposa: $60,488 award focused on increasing ADUs in the county, including support of the Mother Lode ADU collaborative and creation of county-specific ADU standards and tools.

County of Modoc: $121,517 award suballocated to cities, which included planning and design work to advance infrastructure improvements and encourage ADUs through permit streamlining and publication of pre-approved ADU plans.

County of Mono: $121,517 award used for housing policy work that ultimately led to the launch of a 2025 Housing Work Plan.

County of Nevada: $462,699 award used to complete zoning ordinance amendments and encourage ADUs and Tiny Homes through an ADU workbook, a new regulatory framework for Tiny Homes on Wheels, and streamlined permitting processes for both.

County of Shasta: $655,003 award used by cities in region to update their general plans and complete feasibility studies for infrastructure expansions.

County of Sierra: $121,517 award used to develop and publish affordable housing master plans, adopt zoning ordinances, and implement online permit-tracking software.

County of Siskiyou: $687,038 award used to release permit-ready house plans and improve county’s GIS data and create a new public website for the information

County of Tehama: $320,000 award used to create a countywide Vehicle Miles Traveled framework as well as provided technical assistance across the county. Suballocated funds to the city supported zoning and planning updates.

County of Tuolumne: $200,970 award used to support compliance with 6th Cycle Housing Element including identifying housing sites and community engagement work.

Fresno Council of Governments: $18,975,323 award used for zoning reforms, 6th Cycle Housing Element compliance including a multi-jurisdictional housing element, and planning and technical assistance work. Funds were also suballocated to cities and work focused on targeted local housing planning and infrastructure readiness projects.

Humboldt County Association of Governments: $785,186 award used to conduct planning and technical assistance work, provide consultation services for jurisdictions, support 6th Cycle Housing Element compliance, and encourage ADU production through pre-approved plans and streamlining processes.

Lake Area Planning Council: $261,658 award suballocated to implement permitting system and complete zoning amendments as well as a county-wide update to local plans.

Mendocino Council of Governments: $383,245 award suballocated to the county and cities, work included multiple jurisdictions purchasing permitting software to streamline processes.

Sacramento Area Council of Governments: $6,762,880 award with the majority suballocated to cities and counties in the region. Jurisdiction-specific projects included work on specific plans, zoning updates, implementation of objective design standards, code updates, and ADU program development.

San Diego Association of Governments: $6,851,680 award used for region-wide work which included the launch of policy toolkits and completion of studies. Funds were also suballocated to cities where work included feasibility studies, rezoning, finalizing permit-ready ADU plans, general plan updates, and technical assistance work.

Southern California Association of Governments: $47,225,544 award used to complete planning projects, establish Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts in four cities, launch multiple tools, provide technical assistance, support the Housing Policy Leadership Academy, and provide funds to select community-based organizations.

Resources

Grant Payments

To request payments please complete:

Email completed document and invoices (if applicable) to reap@hcd.ca.gov. Payments are processed in the order received.

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