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Beaverton was awarded a $1 million grant to accelerate its plans for sustainable development through the , the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced yesterday.

The city will use the funds to work through its 20-year Civic Plan and move forward on urban renewal projects, focusing on the 24-acre section of Beaverton‘s downtown known as the Creekside District.

The Civic Plan, which went through 18 months of drafts and public comment before City Council approved it in April 2011, includes initiatives such as the creation of an affordable housing development strategy, the expansion of the Beaverton Central Plant, and other projects that will help establish a downtown core and connect housing to public transportation.

鈥淣ow we’ll be able to get serious,鈥� said Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle, adding that five city staffers will work through various development plans and associated coding issues. 鈥淲e are anxious to deliver the projects we outlined for urban renewal, and this (grant) will help us plan and do it right.鈥�

HUD received applications for more than $500 million through its Sustainable Communities Challenge and issued approximately $96 million to communities throughout the country.

Beaverton will manage the grant in partnership with Portland State University and Clean Water Services and with support from the State of Oregon Regional Solutions Center, Friends of Beaverton Creek and the Central Beaverton Neighborhood Association.