118: NAR Grants, Tools, and Resources for State and Local REALTOR® Associations To Turn Ideas into Actions with Christine Windle: Part 1

Welcome to the Center for REALTOR® Development podcast. I'm Monica Neubauer, your host.

 

REALTORS® play a powerful role in shaping our communities. Many are deeply involved, while others are just beginning to explore the possibilities. As an industry, we bring tremendous value, not just to buyers and sellers, but to neighborhoods, main streets, and local community development initiatives that make our communities stronger.

 

What many people don't realize is that the National Association of REALTORS® offers a suite of grants, tools, and resources available only to state and local associations, to help turn great ideas into action. Whether it's improving housing access, revitalizing public spaces, or tackling zoning challenges, NAR has programs that can help.

 

Maybe something we discuss today will inspire an initiative you may want to get involved in, or open a door you didn't know was there.

 

[1:50] Joining us to share more is Christine Windle, who helps lead some of these efforts at NAR. Welcome, Christine.

[1:59] Monica shares Christine Windle's biography.

[3:02] Christine explains that NAR's Community Outreach Program offers several grants: Smart Growth, Housing Opportunity, Placemaking, and Fair Housing. These are available exclusively to state and local REALTOR® associations, not individual REALTORS®.

[3:19] NAR's Community Outreach Program has produced webinars for state and local associations of REALTORS® and their leadership on how to leverage these grants. Just Google NAR Community Outreach webinars, and the page comes up.

[3:32] The discussion will be how REALTORS® can work through local associations and state associations to identify, advocate for, and support eligible initiatives. All of these projects are meant to be done with the community.

[4:03] It's REALTORS® helping the community, in partnership with their local and state association. There are networking opportunities. It's the industry lifting the community.

[4:50] The Community Outreach Grant and Resource program is designed to help REALTOR® associations and their leadership engage in transformational work, bringing REALTORS® to the table to support housing opportunity, smart growth, placemaking, and fair housing in their communities.

[5:12] Within the program, there are cornerstone grants. The Smart Growth Grant supports local planning efforts, infrastructure, investment planning, zoning reform, and more. It helps associations bring stakeholders together to plan for future growth in ways that are equitable and sustainable.

[5:32] The Housing Opportunity Grant is a little different. It focuses on expanding access to home ownership, reducing barriers, and promoting housing affordability. These grants often support first-time buyer education, workforce housing forums, and housing trust fund advocacy.

[5:50] The Placemaking Grant helps associations convert underutilized spaces into vibrant public spaces. So think of a pocket park, a trailhead, or alley activation. These small projects can have a really big impact on the quality of life and smarter growth.

[6:11] Monica asks to hear more about these individual programs and how they help REALTORS®.

[7:12] Christine explains the Housing Opportunity Grant. It's a widely used grant. It's a great member-engagement grant. It's a great grant to leverage for the local association when REALTORS® want to get involved in a Housing Fair. Several local associations will work with partners.

[7:30] Partnerships are an important aspect of these programs, with associations leveraging relationships with municipalities, Housing Authorities, and housing counseling entities to put