DHCR Announces $6.4 Million in Revitalization Grants for North Country

ALBANY, NY (08/06/2008)(readMedia)-- The New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) today announced more than $6.4 million in grants to benefit North Country residents and communities. The funds will help revitalize downtown business districts, renovate 271 units of affordable housing and fund a highly successful homeownership program.

The grants, funded through the NYS Community Development Block Grant (NYS CDBG) and NY Main Street programs, are part of a statewide package of awards totaling more than $42 million that will be used to create and retain more than 400 jobs, and renovate nearly 1,000 units of affordable housing.

Awards for the North Country include $4.4 million in NYS CDBG funds that will rehabilitate affordable housing in St. Lawrence, Essex, Franklin and Jefferson Counties. An additional $750,000 to the County of St. Lawrence Direct Homeownership Assistance Program will help low and moderate income families achieve the dream of homeownership.

Additionally, more than $1.4 million in NY Main Street funds will help renovate buildings and enhance streetscapes in the Cities of Plattsburgh and Ogdensburg, the Towns of Jay and Inlet and the Villages of Brownville, Lowville and Crogham.

The entire list of awards can be found at the DHCR website: www.nysdhcr.gov.

Governor Paterson said "These grants will create jobs and revitalize urban business districts, and they will help rural communities make critical infrastructure repairs and upgrades. These awards bring us closer to our goal of making New York the best possible place to live, work and raise a family."

DHCR Commissioner Deborah VanAmerongen said "the grants awarded today will help local communities and not-for-profit agencies rehabilitate more than 950 units of affordable housing and revitalize communities in every part of the state.

Grants from the NYS CDBG and NY Main Street programs will help:

• Community Revitalization - More than $1.4 million in NY Main Street awards will be used to renovate 42 building facades, beautify streetscapes with trees, ornamental paving, benches and other enhancements, and rehabilitate 18 commercial units in North Country municipalities. Statewide, NYS CDBG grants will help communities make critical infrastructure improvements, directly benefiting more than 85,000 low and moderate income New Yorkers.
• Affordable Housing - NYS CDBG awards will rehabilitate 227 units of affordable housing in the North Country, and the NY Main Street awards will renovate 44 units.
• Business Growth and Job Creation - Statewide, NYS CDBG grants will help New York businesses create or retain 431 jobs and will provide funds to support 24 small business enterprises, helping them to grow and prosper.

The NY Main Street program provides financial resources and technical assistance to communities to strengthen the state's traditional Main Streets and neighborhoods. Grants are provided to business improvement districts and other not-for-profit organizations for building renovations, façade and streetscape improvements and, in limited cases, capital funding for projects intended to anchor downtown districts. The program also provides technical assistance and other resources to support community revitalization efforts.

The NYS CDBG program is federally funded but administered by DHCR through its Office of Community Renewal. The NYS CDBG Program provides grants to smaller communities in order to: ensure decent, affordable housing; provide services to the most vulnerable in our communities; create jobs and expand business opportunities for implementing a variety of community and economic and to provide improved community facilities and services.

Grants from the NYS CDBG and NY Main Street programs are approved by the state's Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC), which is chaired by DHCR Commissioner VanAmerongen and administered by DHCR staff.

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