2006 HUD Secretary's Opportunity and Empowerment Award Winner

City of Richmond Neighborhoods in Bloom

Since it began five years ago, Neighborhoods in Bloom in Richmond, Virginia, has helped restore and revitalize six deteriorating neighborhoods in the city. Using $15 million in public funds, the program focuses on bringing back one neighborhood at a time. The strategy is working. A 2005 study of the targeted areas shows a 19 percent decline in crime compared with 6 percent citywide, while housing values have appreciated nearly 10 percent faster than the city's average.

HUD Secretary's Awards