Bucking trend, Texas cities keep growing, with Dallas-Fort Worth in the lead Nation ...
By STEVE CAMPBELL
sfcampbell@star-telegram.com
Even as the recession put the brakes on mobility across America, Dallas-Fort Worth led the nation in population growth for the 12 months that ended July 1, according to new census estimates released Tuesday.
The Metroplex added 146,530 people. The Houston area wasn't far behind, adding 140,784, the second-highest increase. Los Angeles (106,402), New York City (101,295) and Washington, D.C. (98,305) rounded out the top five.
Austin (50,975) was 12th and San Antonio (41,437) was 16th.
The Texas metropolitan areas stand out, demographers say.
"Texas is the bright light in this very dim decade," said William Frey, a demographer at Brookings Institution who analyzed the data.
"In this economy, any growth is good," he said, noting that Texas has faired considerably better as the housing meltdown, financial crisis and skyrocketing unemployment blanketed the country, dropping migration to the lowest level since World War II.
"There is something magical happening down there," echoed Mark Mather, associate vice president of the Population Reference Bureau, who also crunched the new numbers.
"It's a combination of things happening in Texas," Mather said. "You've got a diverse economy with lots of jobs in high tech and industry. I think the fact that the bottom dropped out of the housing markets in formerly hot areas like Florida and California made Texas look more attractive. I would guess Texas' low unemployment rate also played a part.
"And you've still got fairly high levels of immigration driving growth."
The recession intensified in Texas in the second half of last year, with the state's jobless rate reaching 8.2 percent by December, still lower than the nation, which hit 10 percent. And even in Fort Worth, city leaders are grappling with a decline in tax revenue, leaving a huge budget shortfall.
Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief said the Metroplex's affordability, job opportunities and status as "the best place to ride out the recession" are the keys to the continued growth.
"We have been affected, but I think we'll recover first," Moncrief said. "It intensifies our challenge to be able to provide the infrastructure. It's not sexy, it's not glitzy, and it's all very expensive.
"It's also very difficult to address. We've got to plan carefully about how we grow," Moncrief said. "It must be sustainable, and we must have transportation options. We can't just build our city around cars and trucks."
The housing meltdown was a big factor in limiting mobility across the country and slowing growth in places like Las Vegas, Atlanta and Phoenix, Frey and Mather said.
In Las Vegas, for the first time in decades, more people moved out than moved in. The casino capital is suffering a double whammy from the housing bubble and the slowdown in tourism.
"In places like Nevada, growth was linked to the housing market and all the demand for infrastructure and services that went along with that bubble and then it just collapsed," Mather said.
Nationally, people are being more cautious as they try to just hold onto their jobs, Mather said.
Baby boomers, who just a few years ago might have been considering moves to retirement towns, are hunkering down in big cities where jobs are more plentiful.
"There's a lot of people who might want to retire who are unable to do so now because they lost money in home prices and stock prices," Mather said. "So a lot of people are continuing to work and staying put.
"A growing number of baby boomers want to continue working after age 65, and many are choosing to live closer to cities to keep their options open.
"Baby boomers helped fuel housing and population growth in retirement areas earlier in the decade, and now they are playing an important role in the decline."
Steve Campbell, 817-390-7981 Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/03/23/2062556/bucking-trend-texas-cities-keep.html#ixzz0jJmxapne
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
HUDNo.10-056/U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUDNo.10-056/U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD No. 10-056Andrea Mead(202) 708-0685
FOR RELEASEWednesdayMarch 24, 2010
3,100 PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES MEET CRITICAL RECOVERY ACT DEADLINE, CREATE NEARLY 9,000 JOBS AND REHAB 150,000 HOMES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIESJust over one year after Recovery Act is signed, funds already putting Americans to work, making homes healthier for thousands of families across the U.S.
WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced that over 3,100 public housing authorities across the U.S. successfully met a critical funding deadline outlined in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). As a result, the nearly $3 billion in Public Housing Capital Fund grants awarded through the Recovery Act one year ago are being used to make significant improvements to tens of thousands of public housing units nationwide; creating jobs and growing the economy.
"Strict deadlines, such as this one, were written into the Recovery Act to ensure that funds would be used to meet the top goal of putting Americans back to work as quickly as possible," said Donovan. "I am proud of the work HUD and public housing authorities across the country did to meet this critical deadline. It speaks to the commitment they have to improve affordable housing and grow local economies. Families and communities are already seeing new windows, roofs, cost-saving energy-efficient appliances, and much-needed jobs."
To date, as a result of this critical Recovery Act funding, public housing authorities reported creating or retaining nearly 9,000 jobs and developing or rehabilitating 150,000 public housing units in hard-hit neighborhoods throughout the country. Just one year after being awarded, Recovery Act public housing funds, which were intended to help jumpstart the economy during the worst recession in a generation, are also allowing housing agencies to address the long-standing capital needs of public housing, create jobs, and increase energy efficiency.
On March 17, 2009, less than 30 days after the Recovery Act was signed into law, HUD provided nearly $3 billion in Public Housing Capital funds to over 3,100 public housing authorities nationwide. The funds were allocated through an established formula, effectively more than doubling the Department's annual support of local housing authorities. Specific guidelines in the law required that all funding awarded to public housing authorities through the Recovery Act be "obligated," or committed to specific projects or activities, one year after it was awarded, or the funding must be recaptured by HUD and redistributed to other agencies in compliance with the requirements.
All public housing authorities were able to meet that deadline by either obligating 100 percent of their funds or voluntarily returning all or a portion of their funds by the deadline. Of the $2.985 billion that was awarded to 3,134 public housing authorities, $2.981 billion has been obligated and $3.246 million was voluntarily returned. HUD is currently determining the redistribution process for the funding returned. The 172 ‘troubled' housing authorities that received funding all met the deadline as well, with only two troubled agencies returning all or a portion of their funds by March 17th.
HUD's Capital Fund Program provides annual funding to public housing authorities to develop, finance, and/or modernize the public housing in their communities. This funding can be used to make large-scale improvements such as new roofs and for the replacement of plumbing and electrical systems to increase energy efficiency.
The Recovery Act included $13.61 billion for projects and programs administered by HUD, nearly 75 percent of which was allocated to state and local recipients only eight days after President Obama signed the Act into law, including public housing capital funding. The remaining 25 percent is being awarded through competitive grant programs. To date, 98 percent of HUD's Recovery Act funds are in the hands of local communities, being used to improve housing and neighborhoods, while creating jobs. HUD is committed to implementing Recovery Act investments swiftly and effectively as they generate tens of thousands of jobs, modernize homes to make them energy efficient, and help the families and communities hardest hit by the economic crisis.
In addition, Secretary Donovan and the Department are committed to providing the highest level of transparency possible as Recovery Act funds are administered. It is vitally important that the American people are fully aware of how their tax dollars are being spent and can hold their federal leaders accountable. Every dollar of Recovery Act funds HUD spends can be reviewed and tracked at HUD's Recovery Act website. The full text of HUD's funding notices and tracking of future performance of these grants is also available at HUD's Recovery Act website.
###
HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development ad enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.
HUD No. 10-056Andrea Mead(202) 708-0685
FOR RELEASEWednesdayMarch 24, 2010
3,100 PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES MEET CRITICAL RECOVERY ACT DEADLINE, CREATE NEARLY 9,000 JOBS AND REHAB 150,000 HOMES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIESJust over one year after Recovery Act is signed, funds already putting Americans to work, making homes healthier for thousands of families across the U.S.
WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced that over 3,100 public housing authorities across the U.S. successfully met a critical funding deadline outlined in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). As a result, the nearly $3 billion in Public Housing Capital Fund grants awarded through the Recovery Act one year ago are being used to make significant improvements to tens of thousands of public housing units nationwide; creating jobs and growing the economy.
"Strict deadlines, such as this one, were written into the Recovery Act to ensure that funds would be used to meet the top goal of putting Americans back to work as quickly as possible," said Donovan. "I am proud of the work HUD and public housing authorities across the country did to meet this critical deadline. It speaks to the commitment they have to improve affordable housing and grow local economies. Families and communities are already seeing new windows, roofs, cost-saving energy-efficient appliances, and much-needed jobs."
To date, as a result of this critical Recovery Act funding, public housing authorities reported creating or retaining nearly 9,000 jobs and developing or rehabilitating 150,000 public housing units in hard-hit neighborhoods throughout the country. Just one year after being awarded, Recovery Act public housing funds, which were intended to help jumpstart the economy during the worst recession in a generation, are also allowing housing agencies to address the long-standing capital needs of public housing, create jobs, and increase energy efficiency.
On March 17, 2009, less than 30 days after the Recovery Act was signed into law, HUD provided nearly $3 billion in Public Housing Capital funds to over 3,100 public housing authorities nationwide. The funds were allocated through an established formula, effectively more than doubling the Department's annual support of local housing authorities. Specific guidelines in the law required that all funding awarded to public housing authorities through the Recovery Act be "obligated," or committed to specific projects or activities, one year after it was awarded, or the funding must be recaptured by HUD and redistributed to other agencies in compliance with the requirements.
All public housing authorities were able to meet that deadline by either obligating 100 percent of their funds or voluntarily returning all or a portion of their funds by the deadline. Of the $2.985 billion that was awarded to 3,134 public housing authorities, $2.981 billion has been obligated and $3.246 million was voluntarily returned. HUD is currently determining the redistribution process for the funding returned. The 172 ‘troubled' housing authorities that received funding all met the deadline as well, with only two troubled agencies returning all or a portion of their funds by March 17th.
HUD's Capital Fund Program provides annual funding to public housing authorities to develop, finance, and/or modernize the public housing in their communities. This funding can be used to make large-scale improvements such as new roofs and for the replacement of plumbing and electrical systems to increase energy efficiency.
The Recovery Act included $13.61 billion for projects and programs administered by HUD, nearly 75 percent of which was allocated to state and local recipients only eight days after President Obama signed the Act into law, including public housing capital funding. The remaining 25 percent is being awarded through competitive grant programs. To date, 98 percent of HUD's Recovery Act funds are in the hands of local communities, being used to improve housing and neighborhoods, while creating jobs. HUD is committed to implementing Recovery Act investments swiftly and effectively as they generate tens of thousands of jobs, modernize homes to make them energy efficient, and help the families and communities hardest hit by the economic crisis.
In addition, Secretary Donovan and the Department are committed to providing the highest level of transparency possible as Recovery Act funds are administered. It is vitally important that the American people are fully aware of how their tax dollars are being spent and can hold their federal leaders accountable. Every dollar of Recovery Act funds HUD spends can be reviewed and tracked at HUD's Recovery Act website. The full text of HUD's funding notices and tracking of future performance of these grants is also available at HUD's Recovery Act website.
###
HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development ad enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.
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