The Citi Foundation last month announced it is providing funding to local community development organizations in 20 urban communities across the country to support innovative, physical development and rehabilitation projects – known as “place-based initiatives” – that champion the long-term or large scale revitalization of low- and moderate-income communities. The Citi Foundation is offering the grants through the Citi Foundation Partners in Progress (PIP) Grant Program, an initiative started in 1997 aimed at helping leading community organizations implement physical development or revitalization of underserved areas.

This year, the Citi Foundation expanded PIP from New York-based and regionally-based grants to a national program and awarded funding to the Miami Beach Community Development Corporation to rehabilitate three multi-unit properties in Miami Beach’s CANDO Arts Neighborhood in order to create 140 new affordable rental housing units for low- and moderate-income seniors, artists and other workers. Through PIP, the Citi Foundation has awarded local community development organizations grants of $100,000, totaling more than $2 million. The grants will support pre-development costs for construction, rehabilitation and revitalization of affordable housing, commercial corridors, and retail and neighborhood facilities, such as childcare centers and community centers, in low- to moderate-income communities.

“Citi is strongly committed to supporting the work of community development organizations, which play an important role in the growth of underserved communities, particularly in this difficult economic environment,” Gina Doynow, National Director of North America Community Relations for Citi, said. “That is why the Citi Foundation expanded our PIP grant program nationally to 21 truly ground-breaking revitalization projects we believe will help stabilize and transform urban areas nationwide.”

The Citi Foundation is providing PIP grants to community organizations in: Arlington, Va.; Austin, Texas; Baltimore; Boston; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Chicago; Dallas; Las Vegas; Long Island, N.Y.; Los Angeles; Miami Beach, Fla.; Miami; Orange, N.J.; Philadelphia; San Diego; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Stamford, Conn.; Sussex County, Del.; and Washington, D.C.

For the full press release, click here.