GOVERNOR PATRICK ANNOUNCES $31 MILLION IN FEDERAL BLOCK GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS

GOVERNOR PATRICK ANNOUNCES $31 MILLION IN FEDERAL BLOCK GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS
38 communities receive funding for housing and infrastructure upgrades, child care and public service programs

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Friday, July 26, 2013 – Governor Deval Patrick today announced that 38 cities and towns across the Commonwealth will receive $31 million in federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to support housing rehabilitation, public service projects and local infrastructure.

“When we invest in infrastructure projects in our communities, we put people to work and leave a better Commonwealth for the next generation,” said Governor Patrick. “We thank the Obama Administration and our Congressional delegation for their continued commitment to investing in our future.”

The CDBG program is the Commonwealth’s largest available resource for neighborhood revitalization projects and helps meet the housing and public service needs of low- and moderate-income communities while building and repairing infrastructure vital to the health and safety of all residents. The infrastructure projects help communities create and maintain jobs while providing important improvements to the lives of residents in each city and town. Historically, 40 percent of CDBG funds distributed have been used for these job-creating projects.

The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and funds are distributed by DHCD to cities and towns in Massachusetts with populations of less than 50,000. Eligible communities with populations greater than 50,000 receive program funding directly from HUD. Communities may apply for CDBG funding for activities including: housing rehabilitation projects, infrastructure repair or replacement, construction or rehabilitation of public facilities, neighborhood improvement projects, economic development loans and other business assistance programs, social service upgrades, downtown improvement projects and architectural barrier removal and planning. The maximum grant for a single community is $900,000. Regional applications are accepted.

“The Community Development Block Grants are critical for improving the quality of our municipalities,” said Undersecretary for the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Aaron Gornstein. “Not only will this funding revitalize communities by spurring economic development, but it will also create jobs throughout Massachusetts.

“Community Development Block Grants provide vital support for cities and towns across the Commonwealth,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “These grants will help working families and small businesses, and encourage economic development. I'm committed to fighting in Washington to preserve and strengthen this critical program, and will continue to support efforts to revitalize communities throughout Massachusetts."

"We will strengthen lives and families as we strengthen neighborhoods throughout the Commonwealth with these CDBG grants,” said Senator Edward Markey. “This important funding will create and support jobs rebuilding homes and businesses and will help our local governments revitalize their communities."

“The over $5 million in CDBG grants the 9^th district is receiving will be a huge help to our communities and hard-working families,” said Congressman Bill Keating. “These funds will be put towards the rehabilitation of housing in six towns, as well as childcare assistance programs and social service programs such as local food pantries and domestic violence assistance. These grants are a perfect example of how federal funds can directly impact and improve the lives of our citizens. I applaud Governor Patrick for his swift and thoughtful distribution of the federal funds received by the Commonwealth.”

“CDBG grants give local governments the ability to make smart, strategic investments in programs they know will work for their communities,” said Congressman Joseph Kennedy. “From rebuilding homes to creating new educational opportunities for children and shoring up local infrastructure: this money will support critical growth and revitalization efforts in the 4^th District and across the Commonwealth.”

“CDBG funding is absolutely essential to help our local communities prosper and grow,” said Congressman James McGovern. “We must continue to fight efforts in Washington to slash funding for this program. I commend the Patrick Administration for their commitment to this effort and look forward to seeing these resources in action in the 2^nd District.”

"As a former Mayor, I know how important CDBG funding is for cities and towns across Massachusetts," said Congressman Richard Neal. “The program is an effective tool that allows communities to invest in their future. Without this federal assistance, many public projects that help improve the quality of life for the residents of our state would never be initiated. I am certain that this $31 million will encourage additional economic development and help create jobs.”

“Thanks to these federal investments, cities and towns like Salisbury can continue to address key housing and transportation priorities,” said Congressman John Tierney. “CDBG funding supports precisely the kind of efforts that strengthen and improve our local communities and create jobs. We must continue to make these kinds of investments.”

“Community Development Block Grants are some of the most valuable tools cities have to promote economic development, address infrastructure, and respond flexibly to local challenges,” said Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. “Since coming to Congress, I have strongly supported funding the CDBG program at the level necessary to meet community needs, recently joining my colleagues in urging House support for the program. CDBG is one of the federal government’s most cost effective programs, enabling communities in my district, in Massachusetts and across America to leverage their resources to quickly respond to emerging needs.”

“The Community Development Block Grants program is a terrific partnership between federal and state government to support the revitalization of our communities and create local jobs”, said State Senator James Welch. “I am excited that West Springfield is among the grantees and look forward to seeing these improvements.”

“This funding will help to complete many important projects that we would otherwise not have been able to accomplish,” said Representative Michael Finn. “I’m grateful for Congressman Neal and Governor Patrick for working with me to help secure this funding for the residents of West Springfield.”

This year’s Community Development Block Grant Awards:  

*(jt) indicates a joint application between the listed cities and towns.

Community	Grant Amount	Activities
ADAMS	$900,000	Housing Rehabilitation (10 units); Park Street roadway, sidewalk, drainage, water, and sewer improvements
AGAWAM (jt) East Longmeadow	$753,977	Housing Rehabilitation (10 units); electrical upgrades and window replacement at  Agawam Housing Authority property (Colonial Haven); door replacement and security upgrades at East Longmeadow Housing Authority property (Quarry Hill); engineering and design for Springfield Street (Agawam) sidewalks and crosswalks; ADA Self-Assessment and Transition Plans
AMHERST	$450,000	Amherst Community Childcare Center flooring improvements; Southeast Street sidewalk improvements; First Time Homebuyers' Program to benefit 4 LMI; Housing Authority rehabilitation; social services (food pantry, Big Brother/Big Sister mentoring program, Center for Human Development family outreach, Emergency Shelter and assistance services)
AVON, West Bridgewater	$809,000	Housing Rehabilitation (26 units); social services (senior outreach worker)
BELLINGHAM, Hopedale	$742,500	Housing Rehabilitation (24 units); ADA Self-Assessment and Transition Plans
BERNARDSTON, Conway, Shutesbury, Sunderland	$1,100,000	Housing Rehabilitation (22 units); social services (meals on wheels program)
BOURNE	$891,351	Housing Rehabilitation (12 units); downtown sign and façade program
CHELSEA	$900,000	Distressed properties initiative - acquisition and renovation of 3 foreclosed units; Blossom Park improvements; Targeted Code Enforcement; social services (Centro Latino citizenship program, ESOL instruction, after-school/summer program)
CHESTER	$587,611	Maple Avenue/Maple Street roadway and sidewalk improvements
CHESTERFIELD (jt) Cummington, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg	$1,100,000	Housing rehabilitation (22 units); social services (childcare subsidies, elder health, elder in-home living assistance, family counseling, food pantry)
CLINTON	$892,285	Senior Center; streets and sidewalks assessment and planning study
DENNIS (jt) Harwich	$808,784	Housing rehabilitation (20 units); social services (childcare assistance)
EASTHAMPTON	$900,000	Housing Rehabilitation (4 units); Everett/Grant Street Neighborhood roadway, sidewalk, drainage, water and sewer improvements
EDGARTOWN (jt) Aquinnah, Chilmark	$816,369	Housing rehabilitation (20 units); social services (childcare assistance)
EVERETT	$900,000	Housing Rehabilitation (5 units); Bow, Dane, Langdon, Orient, Jacob Streets roadway and sidewalk reconstruction; social services (elder self-sufficiency services, legal services, youth homelessness prevention, adult literacy, food pantry)
FAIRHAVEN, Middleborough	$894,657	Housing Rehabilitation (8 units); Elliot Lane (Fairhaven) roadway, sidewalk, drainage, and water improvements; Sproat and Park Streets (Middleborough) roadway and sidewalk improvements
GARDNER	$900,000	Housing Redevelopment (55 units); Pleasant, Connors/Knowlton (Phase II) Streets roadway & sidewalk reconstruction; Jackson Playground improvements; social services (FTHB, employment training for veterans)
GREENFIELD	$900,000	Housing Rehabilitation (8 units); Hillside neighborhood sidewalk reconstruction; commercial district Slum and Blight inventory; Acquisition and demolition (2 units); social services (adult literacy, food pantry, substance abuse counseling, ESOL, youth employment training)
METHUEN	$800,000	Housing Rehabilitation (12 units); downtown sign and façade program; social services (adult literacy, childcare scholarships, youth services, transportation assistance)
MONTAGUE	$426,406	Housing Rehabilitation (4 units); Millers Falls Village center slums and blight study; Turners Falls Historic Industrial District slums and blight study; Senior Center planning study; social services (meals on wheels, early literacy education and care)
NORTH ADAMS	$900,000	Public facilities improvements to create youth center in former armory; demolition (2); design for a park; ADA improvement Alcombright Complex; social services
NORWOOD, Bridgewater	$753,977	Housing Rehabilitation (10 units); electrical upgrades to Housing Authority property (Washington Heights); Bridgewater Downtown community development plan
OAK BLUFFS (jt) Tisbury	$959,045	Housing Rehabilitation (24 units); social services (childcare assistance)
ORANGE	$650,000	Cheney and East River Streets drainage and sidewalk improvements; social services (advocacy and parenting support services for mentally disabled)
PALMER	$430,899	Housing Rehabilitation (3 units); South High Street sewer improvements; social services (domestic violence prevention)
RUSSELL, Chester, Middlefield	$1,000,000	Housing Rehabilitation (5 units); Pine Hill Road (Russell) water improvements; Middlefield Senior Center roof replacement; social services (case management and support services, food pantry, adult education center, domestic violence prevention task force)
SALISBURY	$500,000	Housing Rehabilitation (2 units); Lincoln Avenue Neighborhood water improvements; social services (Boys and Girls Club, emergency assistance program)
SHELBURNE (jt) Buckland	$687,373	Highland Village Housing (Shelburne) ramp and sidewalk improvements; Sears Street (Buckland) roadway, sidewalk, drainage, and water improvements; social services (food pantry)
SOUTHBRIDGE	$900,000	Housing rehabilitation (3 units); infrastructure design to McCann Field; Chestnut and Main Streets infrastructure improvements; social services (youth tutoring services, adult literacy)
SPENCER, North Brookfield	$798,982	Housing Rehabilitation (17 units); Spencer property assessment and re-use planning; North Brookfield East Side neighborhood  infrastructure planning
TEMPLETON	$538,272	Memorial Street roadway, sidewalk, drainage and water improvements; social services (senior outreach worker)
TRURO (jt) Provincetown, Wellfleet	$850,367	Housing Rehabilitation (21 units); social services (childcare assistance)
WALES	$900,000	Housing Rehabilitation (6 units); Woodland Heights storm drainage and roadway improvements
WARE (jt) Hardwick, Warren	$984,380	Housing Rehabilitation (20 units); distressed properties assessment and re-use planning study; social services (adult literacy, domestic violence prevention task force, family support services)
WAREHAM	$900,000	Housing rehabilitation (5 units); Wareham Village roadway, sidewalk, drainage and streetscape improvements; social services (food pantry, special needs youth scholarship program, domestic violence program, comprehensive services for homeless)
WEBSTER	$900,000	Negus Street roadway, sidewalk and water improvements (Phase 2); Riverwalk construction project
WEST SPRINGFIELD	$900,000	Housing rehabilitation (13 units); code enforcement; Memorial neighborhood sidewalk improvements; social services (ESOL, camp scholarships, Head Start, family self-sufficiency counseling, homebuyer education)
WINCHENDON	$900,000	Housing Rehabilitation (5 units); North Vine Street roadway, drainage, water and sewer improvements