The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a press release announcing the six finalists that will compete for the $61 million Implementation Grant funding through the new Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI).  Boston, New Orleans, Seattle, Tampa, San Francisco and Chicago submitted plans to tackle affordable housing, employment, education, and transportation problems in a distressed neighborhood.  The goal is to break the cycle of poverty and ensure that future generations will enjoy better educational and economic opportunities.  CNI is a collaborative effort involving HUD, the Departments of Justice, Treasury, Education, and Health and Human Services, to transform troubled neighborhoods through a combination of private and public effort into sustainable and safe communities.  HUD previously announced $4 million in grants to 17 communities as the premier recipients of Choice Neighborhood Planning Grants.