Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development

The Virginia Enterprise Zone application site for grant year 2011 is now open The Enterprise Zone program is now accepting applications. To access instruction manuals, required forms, and to submit your application please visit the EZ Application Submission System.

*All application materials must be submitted to DHCD by April 2, 2012.* Electronic submission will close at 11:59 PM on April 2, 2012 and all hard copies must be post-marked no later than April 2, 2012

For more information about the Enterprise Zone Program, the Real Property Investment Grant (RPIG) or the Job Creation Grant (JCG), visit the VEZ site, or contact Lauren Fink at lauren.fink@dhcd.virginia.gov.

HOME Program Input Sessions Scheduled for 2012
DHCD's Housing Division has scheduled two Input Sessions to receive comments and feedback on changes to the HOME Investment Partnership Program. The Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides funding for the Affordable and Special Needs Housing Production, Down Payment Assistance and Indoor Plumbing programs. Input is encouraged from past or current recipient agencies, as well as from those considering the HOME Program as a resource for the provision of affordable housing.

RICHMOND AREA SESSION:
January 31, 2012, 10 a.m.
Virginia Housing Center
Henrico Room 2
4224 Cox Rd
Glen Allen, VA  23060

ROANOKE AREA SESSION:
February 1, 2012, 10 a.m.
Roanoke Higher Education Center
Room 409
108 N. Jefferson Street
Roanoke, VA  24016

Please register using the link below.  Registration is open from January 9-30.

An Introduction to Energy, Energy Conservation, and Energy Codes.
A one-day training for design professionals, builders, building owners, and code enforcement personnel.

November 14, 2011
December 13, 2011
January 27, 2012
February 28, 2012
April 19, 2012

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

This one-day program provides design professionals, builders, building owners and code enforcement personnel with an overview of energy concepts, energy conservation and an introduction to the 2009 Virginia Energy Conservation Code, as well as the relative residential and commercial building codes. Participants will gain knowledge of the concepts of energy and the 2009 Virginia Energy Conservation Code, as well as an understanding of Virginia’s role in the energy code enforcement process. In addition, the Virginia Weatherization Training Center will provide demonstrations and answer questions regarding energy concepts and conservation. Participants will receive a number of reference materials useful in understanding and applying the energy codes in the design and building process.

To register, visit Online Registration. For more information, contact the Virginia Building Code Academy at tcu@dhcd.virginia.gov or (804) 371-7180.

This is a free program and lunch will be provided. Space is limited to 100 participants per session.  

Industrial Revitalization Fund: $3 million available to help rehabilitate derelict commercial and industrial structures
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will accept applications beginning September 9, 2011, for grants of up to $600,000 to local governments through the Industrial Revitalization Fund (IRF). For more information visit: www.dhcd.virginia.gov/irf.

2009 Virginia Code Series Published
The 2009 Virginia Code series, published by the International Code Council (ICC), will be available for purchase through the ICC website store in March 2011. Pre-orders for the individual code books and/or the complete code sets are presently being accepted online; email notification may be requested when the various codes become available. As an introductory offer, a special discount of 10% will be applied to early purchases before March 31 with the promotional code 2009VA at the webpage http://media.iccsafe.org/store/2009VA/.

In addition, the electronic version of the Virginia Codes will be available for purchase and download at the ICC website store beginning this week; the electronic version will also be available for view at the ICC Free Resource webpage at no charge to the user; the e-Codes will be posted in the order in which they are finalized by ICC.

The 2009 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code, and the Related Regulations may also be accessed at State Building Codes and Regulations

Communities of Opportunity Tax Credit Applications are still being accepted
The Department of Housing and Community Development continues to accept applications for the Communities of Opportunity Tax Credit program for the 2010 tax year. The Communities of Opportunity Tax Credit provides Virginia income tax credits to landlords with qualified housing units located in census tracts with poverty rates of less than ten percent in the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) who participate in the Housing Choice Voucher program.

More information and registration>> URL

Virginia Housing Search online now!
VirginiaHousingSearch.com is a vibrant new tool to help locate housing that meets your specific needs.  This centralized database provides landlords and those looking for housing with a one-stop resource to list and locate a wide-range of housing across the Commonwealth.  Housing searches can be tailored for those seeking affordable housing, accessible housing, or other individualized needs.

VirginiaHousingSearch Web site >> URL

Agency strategic and service area plans
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has developed agency strategic and service area plans in conjunction with the Commonwealth of Virginia's Strategic Planning and Performance-Based Budgeting Process. Information on the plan is available below. 

DHCD Strategic Plan >> URL
Appendix A >> URL