In case you missed it, yesterday HUD announced the winners of its first-ever Choice Neighborhoods implementation grants. Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Seattle will leverage a collective $122 million to rehabilitate severely distressed public and multifamily housing developments and revitalize their surrounding communities.

These cities will use their grant money to go far beyond replacing blighted buildings; they will weave into struggling neighborhoods crucial employment, educational, health, public safety, and transportation resources that promise to turn entire communities around. As the Chicago Tribune reports, “‘Choice Neighborhoods’ is unlike other federal anti-poverty programs because it attempts to bring together disparate social service agencies to improve local schools and tries to bring in businesses like grocery stores, while teaming with neighborhood organizations and police to fight crime in targeted areas.”

Curious to read more about Choice Neighborhoods and the five projects poised to rejuvenate troubled neighborhoods? After the jump, we’ve rounded up major press coverage on the announcement.

Boston

• Hub wins $20.5M grant to rehab Dorchester housing project – Boston Herald
• A boost for a blighted neighborhood – Boston Globe

Chicago

• Federal grant gives troubled Woodlawn ‘a second chance’ – Chicago Sun-Times
• Federal grant targets Woodlawn renovation – Chicago Tribune
• U.S. Housing Department Awards Woodlawn $30 million – Chicago Public Radio
• $30M HUD Grant Aims to Revitalize Woodlawn – NBC Chicago

New Orleans

• HANO gets $30.5 million to re-do Iberville public housing complex – New Orleans Times-Picayune
• HUD lends support to Iberville revitalization – Fox New Orleans

San Francisco

• Federal grant to help redo housing project – ABC 7
• City, Community Leaders Celebrate Federal Grant for Alice Griffith Housing Complex – SF Appeal

Seattle

• Housing authority gets $10 million for Yesler Terrace – Seattle Post-Intelligencer