DHCR Announces $6 Million in Community Revitalization Grants for Western New York

ALBANY, NY (08/06/2008)(readMedia)-- The New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) today announced $6 million in grants to revitalize Western New York communities, create or retain 75 jobs, renovate 159 units of affordable housing as well as 72 commercial units.

The awards, 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 Western New York include a NY Main Street grant of $100,000 to restore the Historic Hollywood Theater in Gowanda, registered as a New York State and national historic landmark and recognized as an architectural treasure.

Additionally, nearly $2.5 million in NYS CDBG funds have been awarded to municipalities in Alleghany, Chautauqua, Wayne and Orleans Counties, which will be used to make critical infrastructure upgrades to ensure residents have access to safe drinking water.

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."

Locally, grants from the NYS CDBG and NY Main Street programs will help:

• Community Revitalization - Nearly $1 million in NY Main Street awards will be targeted to Western New York and used to renovate building facades, beautify streetscapes with trees, ornamental paving, benches and other enhancements, and rehabilitate 72 commercial units. 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 - More than 150 units of affordable housing in Western New York will be renovated thanks to the grants. NYS CDBG awards will rehabilitate 95 units of affordable housing in Western New York, and the NY Main Street awards will renovate 64 units.
• Business Growth and Job Creation - The NYS CDBG grants will help businesses in Western New York create or retain 75 jobs and will provide funds to support 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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