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BOSTON - State Representative Harold P. Naughton, Jr. is pleased to report that Clinton is one of the 41 cities and towns across the Commonwealth that will receive $28 million in federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to support housing, infrastructure, business development and public services projects. Clinton will receive $900,000.00 for Housing rehabilitation (7 units); and Grove Street roadway and water improvements. Governor Patrick made the announcement during a visit to Chelsea's North Bellingham neighborhood where a portion of the City's $1 million CDBG award will be used to rehabilitate 11 foreclosed housing units.
“These grants will allow communities to put people to work while moving forward on a multitude of improvement projects that will attract businesses to the Commonwealth,” said Governor Patrick who made the announcement following a neighborhood tour of improvements to Chelsea made possible by past CDBG funds. “Funding that allows cities and towns to fix up homes and storefronts, continue to provide public services or replace streets and sidewalks will strengthen Massachusetts and provide important opportunities to residents and businesses.”
“This grant is a great step for the Town of Clinton’s Housing rehabilitation as well as Grove Street water and roadway improvements,” said Representative Harold P. Naughton, Jr. “I am very proud Clinton was able to receive the necessary funding that enhances housing, and will further increase business development opportunities within the community.”
“As we continue to invest in cities and towns across the Commonwealth, improving our infrastructure and housing stock helps to support the state’s economic success,” said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray, Chair of the Inter-agency Council on Housing and Homelessness. “We thank our congressional delegation for supporting our efforts to reinvigorate our communities and build a stronger Commonwealth for the future.”
The flexibility of CDBG funds enables communities like Chelsea to address their specific needs, improve the lives of residents and strengthen the local economy. In addition to rehabilitating 11 foreclosed properties, Chelsea will invest the CDBG funds in sidewalk reconstruction and English as a Second Language (ESOL) programs. In the past, Chelsea has effectively leveraged CDBG funds to revitalize neighborhoods by working with nonprofit partners like Chelsea Neighborhood Developers and local residents. The value of CDBG funds was evident as Governor Patrick toured the neighborhood where, with FY2010 CDBG funds, the City and its partners created the Enhanced Code Enforcement Pilot Program to deal with landlords who are not in compliance with city regulations and, when necessary, to take over properties and put responsible property owners in place.
“This investment will help Massachusetts modernize neighborhoods and create jobs, " said Senator John Kerry.
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 the state Department of Housing and Community Development (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 $1 million. Regional applications are accepted.
Ann Houston, Executive Director of Chelsea Neighborhood Developers, said, “CDBG provides a flexible resource that Chelsea has used effectively to leverage significant community impact. In the Shurtleff Bellingham neighborhood, residents worked with the City and CND to prioritize traffic calming, better roads and rehab foreclosed properties as important components of neighborhood improvement. But just as important, residents said they needed better jobs. The City has invested CDBG in English as a Second Language classes, as well as other social services aimed at employability skills. “
“Cities and towns are looking to maximize every available resource at this time," said DHCD Undersecretary Tina Brooks. "These grants will be put to good use providing quality public services and opportunities for residents.”
Community
Development Block Grant Awards (CDBG)
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Community
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Grant
Amount
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Activities
|
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AMHERST
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$1,000,000
|
Land
acquisition for affordable housing; Main
Street roadway, sidewalk and drainage;
Affordable housing production planning
study; social services (emergency
shelter, food pantry, support for the
Center for New Americans, childcare
tuition, childcare subsidies, emergency
assistance)
|
|
AYER
|
$900,000
|
Housing
rehabilitation (12 units); Pond Street
roadway, sidewalk, water, sewer
|
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BECKET
|
$900,000
|
Housing
rehabilitation (7 units); North Village
sidewalk, roadway and drainage
improvements; Senior affordable housing
planning study
|
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BOURNE
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$900,000
|
Housing
rehabilitation (15 units); Bourne
Housing Authority's Continental
Apartments improvements and roof
replacement
|
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CHELSEA
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$1,000,000
|
Distressed
properties initiative - acquisition and
renovation of 11 foreclosed units;
Washington Avenue sidewalk
reconstruction; social services (Centro
Latino citizenship program, ESOL
instruction, after-school/summer
program)
|
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CHESTERFIELD
(jt), Cummington, Goshen, Peru,
Plainfield, Williamsburg
|
$1,047,404
|
Housing
rehabilitation (13 units); first time
homebuyer counseling /assistance (6
purchases); Goshen senior housing
planning study; social services
(childcare subsidies, elder health;
elder in-home living assistance; family
counseling; food pantry)
|
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CLINTON
|
$900,000
|
Housing
rehabilitation (7 units); Grove Street
water and roadway improvements
|
|
EASTHAMPTON
|
$895,950
|
Housing
rehabilitation (4 units); Everett Street
neighborhood roadway, sidewalks,
drainage and sewer improvements
|
|
FAIRHAVEN
|
$883,926
|
Housing
rehabilitation (3 units); Spring Street
sidewalk, roadway, sewer, and drainage
|
|
GARDNER
|
$1,000,000
|
Housing
rehabilitation (6 units); Greater
Gardner Community Health Center
improvements; demolition of distressed
properties (2 units); energy efficiency
improvements to the Great Gardner/Athol
Area Mental Health Association building;
design for Connors and Knowlton Streets;
design for Greenwood playground; Chelsea
Street Affordable housing development;
social services (food pantry, literacy
training, computer and job skills
training)
|
|
GREENFIELD
|
$1,000,000
|
Storefront
facade improvements (2 units); Housing
rehabilitation (7 units); Columbus and
Hall Avenues sewer replacement project;
social services (food pantry, substance
abuse counseling, adult literacy, ESOL)
|
|
HUNTINGTON
(jt), Middlefield, Russell
|
$900,000
|
Housing
rehabilitation (2 units); Pine Hill Road
water improvements; social services
(domestic violence prevention, elder
in-home living assistance, elder
economic self-sufficiency, food pantry,
adult literacy)
|
|
MARLBOROUGH
|
$900,000
|
Housing
rehabilitation (3 units); Preston Street
roadway, sidewalk, water, drainage
|
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MONTAGUE
|
$900,000
|
Housing
rehabilitation (3 units); Unity Park
improvements
|
|
NORTH
ADAMS
|
$1,000,000
|
Municipal
skating rink parking improvements;
Armory building rehabilitation;
Neighborhood abandoned property program
(2 units)
|
|
PALMER
|
$900,000
|
Housing
rehabilitation (6 units); Crest and Hill
Streets sidewalk, roadway, water and
drainage; Endelson playground design;
social services (domestic violence
prevention)
|
|
PHILLIPSTON
(jt), Royalston
|
$800,000
|
Housing
rehabilitation (14 units); ADA design
for Phillipston and Royalston town
halls; affordable housing study
|
|
ROCKLAND
|
$680,000
|
Housing
rehabilitation (nine units, single
building); barrier removal at Rockland
community center
|
|
SALISBURY
|
$900,000
|
Housing
rehabilitation (4 units); Gardner Street
roadway, sidewalk, water, drainage;
social services (Boys and Girls club,
emergency assistance program)
|
|
SHELBURNE
(jt), Buckland
|
$900,000
|
Grove
Street (Shelburne) and Clement Street
(Buckland) street, sidewalk, water,
sewer, drainage; social services (food
pantry)
|
|
SOUTHBRIDGE
|
$1,000,000
|
Housing
rehabilitation (8 units); Morton Street
roadway improvements; Chestnut Street
sidewalk engineering; Commercial
rehabilitation (6 units); Strategic
financing planning and master planning
studies; social service (youth services,
elder services)
|
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SOUTHWICK
|
$900,000
|
Housing
rehabilitation (8 units); Southwick
Senior Center expansion
|
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TEMPLETON
|
$899,562
|
Housing
rehabilitation (5 units); Columbus
Avenue, Cherry Street, Mason Street, and
southern Summer Street roadway,
sidewalk, water and drainage
|
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WARE
|
$800,000
|
Memorial
Field improvements; social services
(family support services, domestic
violence prevention)
|
|
WARE
(jt), Hardwick, Brookfield, Warren
|
$754,217
|
Housing
rehabilitation (19 units); social
services (adult literacy)
|
|
WAREHAM
|
$1,000,000
|
Housing
rehabilitation (9 units); Village
streetscape design; social services
(senior transportation, after school
program, youth and adult tutoring,
domestic violence prevention)
|
|
WARREN
|
$695,545
|
Crescent
Street roadway, sidewalks, water,
drainage; Pleasant and Highland Streets
design; School Street neighborhood
planning; social services (domestic
violence)
|
|
WEBSTER
|
$1,000,000
|
Hazardous
materials remediation at low-income
elderly housing site; Mechanic Street
sidewalk reconstruction; School Street
Municipal Parking Lot reconstruction;
Pedestrian access and circulation
planning study
|
|
WEST
SPRINGFIELD
|
$1,000,000
|
Housing
rehabilitation (14 units); neighborhood
code violation enforcement; Merrick
Street sidewalks; Center playground
renovation; social services (housing
counseling, family counseling, English
as second language, summer youth
programs)
|
|
WINCHENDON
|
$825,000
|
Emerald
Street roadway, sidewalks, water, sewer,
drainage
|
|
TOTAL
AWARDS
|
$28,004,264
|
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