Funding for Mid-Hudson Community Revitalization

ALBANY, NY (09/19/2007)(readMedia)-- Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced more than $3.4 million for revitalization projects in communities in the Mid-Hudson region. Among other things, awards will help provide housing for migrant farm workers in Ulster County and help recruit and retain a quality workforce for the county’s agricultural industry.

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.”

Homes for 128 Migrant Farm Workers

Examples of the types of projects receiving awards include a grant to Ulster County to replace severely substandard housing units with new trailers for 128 low to moderate-income migrant farm workers.

High rents and a tight rental market leave few housing options in rural Ulster County for migrant farm laborers. The State’s $600,000 grant will help leverage $164,000 in additional funding to provide homes for laborers, help the county retain and recruit quality farm workers, and reduce energy costs.

Additional projects funded throughout the Mid-Hudson include:

• The City of Port Jervis will receive $572,424 for a comprehensive housing rehabilitation/public improvement/economic development program
• The Village of Kiryas Joel will receive $400,000 for its Commercial Center Façade Improvement Program
• The Village of New Square will receive $400,000 to expand Aim B’yisroel
• The Town of Fallsburg will recive $400,000 to upgrade its public sewer
• The Village of Ellenville will receive $242,500 for Microenterprise Development
• The Town of Ulster will receive $100,000 to connect East Kingston to the Public Water Distribution System
• The Town of Ulster will receive $300,000 to construct a senior center
• The Town of Wawarsing will receive $400,000 for the Napanoch Water Project

Congressman Eliot Engel said, “The expansion of this convalescent center goes a long way to help the women and children in New Square. Aim B’Yisroel has ambitious plans and this grant will provide the resources to allow them to fulfill these plans. The additional beds will help them to assist more than 600 women and babies in the coming year. I congratulate them for their good work and dedication to the community. This is an excellent example of federal dollars being used by the state to help local communities.”

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

-30-