HBCU Research Center of Excellence

Cooperative agreements to USA historically black colleges and universities to establish research centers focused on housing and community development within underserved communities. Applicants are advised that required registrations may take four weeks or longer to complete. The purpose of this grant is to conduct research projects on multiple topics of strategic interest to the Department of Housing and Urban Development enabling the establishment of up to three additional Historically Black College and Universities Center(s) of Excellence (COE).

In addition to the topics listed in the Learning Agenda (see Supporting Documents, below) applicants are invited to submit research proposals including a broad range of topics related to the built environment. The following is not intended to be an exhaustive list of possible topics: building codes, standards, and construction technologies (including factory-built housing and components); land use planning and housing issues related to “green” construction and energy efficiency; disaster preparedness and climate resilient construction; and housing and community planning addressing the needs of multiple age, income, and accessibility groups. Topics may address retrofit or rehabilitation of existing structures, new construction, or both.

The research projects are intended to initiate an ongoing series of reports focused on housing, community, and economic development in underserved communities that can serve as national, local, or regional benchmarks and assist in support of COE(s) that expand the housing and community development research efforts at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). For benchmark comparisons, applicants are encouraged to consider the work of other university based housing research centers such as Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, New York University’s Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy, the Shimberg Center for Housing Studies at the University of Florida, and the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at the University of California Berkeley, that sometimes focus on national issues, but largely focus on local or regional housing and community development issues. The research projects, proposed by the awardee, will focus on topics of interest to the Department about underserved communities from the unique perspective of institutions that are often located in, and serve the residents of underserved communities.

The funds made available under this NOFO will make awards for recipients to undertake multiple research projects. This will assist in the COE(s) ability to use this work to develop other streams of revenue and grant funding, including from private enterprise and private philanthropic organizations, to support on-going and sustainable operations and activities.

For eligible activities, seehttps://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/SPM/documents/HBCU_COE.pdf#page=7.