Funding Approved for Community Revitalization

ALBANY, NY (09/19/2007)(readMedia)-- Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced $10.2 million for revitalization projects in communities across Central New York, the Mohawk Valley, and the Southern Tier. Among other things, awards will help increase homeownership in Tompkins County, replace an outdated sewage system in the Village of Fair Haven, and address the shortage of licensed childcare in Oneida County.

The funding is part of a total $29 million in awards from the Office For Small Cities (OFSC), which will fund 67 projects statewide and benefit 65 communities in 35 counties.

“These investments will help upstate communities address the critical areas of housing, infrastructure, economic development and downtown revitalization needed to build a stronger economy,” Governor Spitzer said.

Deborah VanAmerongen, Commissioner of the Division of Housing & Community Renewal and Chair of the Housing Trust Fund Corporation, which approved the awards today, said these grants “will have a significant impact on local communities and make it possible for localities and developers to leverage more than $48 million in additional funding statewide. This is an example of the type of collaboration that makes a real difference in the quality of life in our neighborhoods.”

Examples of the types of projects receiving awards include:

Increasing Homeownership in Tompkins County

With housing prices increasing dramatically, low- to moderate-income residents of Tompkins County are finding it more and more difficult to purchase a home. An award of $600,000 will allow Tompkins County to provide financial assistance to 19 low-to-moderate income homeowners for the purchase of a home. The County will also provide funding for energy audits of the new homes and provide pre- and post-purchase counseling for the program participants.

Improving Sewage Treatment in Village of Fair Haven, Cayuga County

Sub-standard on site sewage treatment in the Village of Fair Haven, Cayuga County is threatening Lake Ontario. A $600,000 grant from the OFSC will help leverage $648,000 in additional funds, including $348,000 in grants from the Environmental Protection Agency secured by Congressman Jim Walsh and $300,000 from the US Department of Agriculture. The grants will be used to connect 110 households (containing 263 individuals) to a newly developed regional wastewater treatment facility. Overall, households will save $312 per household per year as a result of Small Cities financial assistance.

Addressing Drastic Childcare Shortage in Village of Boonville, Oneida County

A $600,000 OFSC grant will help address the drastic shortage of licensed childcare in the Town and Village of Boonville. The grant, combined with in-kind services and donated land, will allow the Town of Boonville will to provide daycare to 68 children from low and moderate income families while creating 14 new full and part-time jobs. Boonville will partner with The Hand In Hand Early Childhood Center to construct a 5,000 square foot daycare facility. The Town and Village will each provide in-kind services for construction, including infrastructure and site development.

Additional projects funded throughout Central New York, the Mohawk Valley, and the Southern Tier, include: U.S. Rep. Michael A. Arcuri (D-Utica), a strong supporter of the federal Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), which funds New York’s Small Cities program said, “I am pleased to see federal resources coming back to help grow the local economy and revitalize our local communities. These funds will allow local governments to provide critical services for the most needy in our communities as well as help boost economic development and infrastructure maintenance. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has slashed funding for the CDBG program every year since 2001 – cutting funding by nearly 35 percent. This July, I joined members from both sides of the aisle to restore funding to this critical federal program. I am committed to protecting CDBG funding to make sure communities throughout the 24th district have the tools they need to create opportunity and growth.”

• • Chenango County will receive $300,000 for a Septic and Well Replacement Program
• • Chenango County will receive $300,000 to implement the Chenango County Agribusiness and Commercial District Microenterprise Program, expected to create 60 new jobs
• • Delaware County will receive $338,000 to establish a Microenterprise revolving loan fund
• • Oneida County will receive $600,000 for senior housing rehabilitation
• • Oswego County will receive $469,100 for the Oswego Gateway Neighborhood Project
• • The City of Amsterdam will receive $400,000 to upgrade its sanitary sewer system and separate storm water
• • The City of Cortland will receive $567,000 for the South End Neighborhood Revitalization Program
• • The City of Gloversville will receive $400,000 to rehabilitate 24 housing units
• • The City of Hornell will receive $400,000 to upgrade its public water system
• • The Town of Brookfield will receive $400,000 to rehabilitate 19 housing units in the Southside of Brookfield Hamlet
• • The Town of Maryland will receive $400,000 to rehabilitate 20 low and moderate-income housing units
• • The Town of Ohio will receive $400,000 to rehabilitate 14 low-income housing units
• • The Town of Oppenheim will receive $400,000 to rehabilitate 13 low and moderate-income housing units
• • The Town of Roxbury will receive $400,000 to rehabilitate 14 low and moderate-income housing units
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• • The Town of Truxton will receive $400,000 to rehabilitate 15 low and moderate-income housing units
• • The Town of Ulysses will receive $400,000 to rehabilitate 15 low-income housing units
• • The Village of Addison will receive $400,000 to for public sewer upgrades
• • The Village of Canajoharie will receive $650,000 for downtown revitalization
• • The Village of Frankfort will receive $400,000 to rehabilitate 20 housing
• • The Village of Port Byron will receive $400,000 to rehabilitate low and moderate-income housing

Congressman Michael R. McNulty said, “These grants will make a huge difference to the Cities of Amsterdam and Gloversville and the Village of Canajoharie by providing the funding necessary to ensure decent affordable housing and improved community facilities and services. I am grateful to Governor Spitzer for recognizing the needs of our local communities and for directing these significant resources to them for important housing, neighborhood revitalization, and infrastructure projects."

Congressman Jim Walsh said, “I’m pleased to join with Governor Spitzer to announce federal Small Cities funding to communities in Wayne and Cayuga Counties,” said Walsh. “The Governor's Office for Small Cities worked closely with me to identify needs in the region. This investment in public water, sewage, and other infrastructure improvements will create economic development opportunities while protecting our precious natural resources."

Walsh added, “When I was Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee with fiscal oversight over HUD, I was proud of our efforts to successfully transfer the Small Cities award program to New York State control several years ago, so that funding could be more effectively allocated to communities across the State. Previously, New York had been one of only two states in the nation that did not control the dispersing of such funds.”

Congressman Maurice Hinchey said, "I applaud Governor Spitzer for recognizing the needs of our local communities and awarding them these grants that will improve the quality of life for residents while also spurring economic development," Hinchey said. "These grants demonstrate why it is critical that we in Congress continue to invest in the Community Development Block Grant program. By providing federal funds for these local projects, we are helping communities make important improvements while also sparing local taxpayers the full cost."

OFSC administers the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, and provides grants to eligible cities, towns, and villages with a population under 50,000 and certain counties with populations under 200,000.

To view all the grants awarded by the Office For Small Cities visit www.dhcr.state.ny.us or www.nysmallcities.com

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Posted Wednesday September 19, 2007 at 03:06 pm by New York State Homes and Community Renewal