Governor Patrick Announces $26.7 Million for Community Improvement Projects Throughout Massachusetts 55 Massachusetts cities and towns to receive federal Community Development Block Grants

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

July 24, 2008

BOSTON – Thursday, July 24, 2008 – Governor Deval Patrick today announced 55 communities will receive $26.7 million in federal Community Development Block Grants to help fund a variety of improvement projects, boost business and economic development opportunities, and upgrade social services. Repair and improvements to infrastructure and housing rehabilitation for low- and middle-income families are the two largest spending categories. Some 256 private housing units will be rehabilitated using these grant funds, and almost all of them will be single family homes occupied by low or moderate income households.

“Whether it’s through support service upgrades, renovated housing, or new roadways and sidewalks, the investment made by these grants will help create jobs and produce long-term benefits for all Massachusetts residents,” said Governor Patrick.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is the Commonwealth’s largest available resource to provide municipalities with resources to implement community and economic development projects, and funds are distributed by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development to cities and towns with populations of less than 50,000.

The federal funds are targeted to support community revitalization, meet the housing and service needs of low- and moderate-income people and build and repair infrastructure vital to the health and safety of all residents. Eligible communities with populations greater than 50,000 receive CDBG funding directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The maximum grant for a single community is $800,000 or $1 million for a single community undertaking multiple, geographically targeted activities. Regional applications are accepted.

Of the $26.7 million awarded, 15 communities along the Route 2 corridor from Gardner to North Adams will receive approximately $6.6 million while another 21 towns clustered throughout Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and western Worcester County will receive nearly $7.6 million. Central Massachusetts communities will receive $3.8 million while southeast Massachusetts, the Cape and Islands receive $4.6 million. A balance of $4.1 million will go to cities and towns in the eastern part of the state (complete award list attached).

“These popular grants are extremely flexible and can be used any number of ways to improve our quality of life and help keep our state economically competitive while creating a culture of opportunity for those who earn across a wide variety of incomes,” said Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Tina Brooks.

Community Development Block Grant Awards

Communities

Summary

Award

AMHERST

Public Facilities Improvements–Head Start and “Survival” Center; Public Services $799,957

ATHOL

Infrastructure Improvements; Public Services

$570,850

ATHOL, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston

Housing Rehabilitation (11 units);

Public Services

$659,987

CHELSEA

Code Enforcement, Housing Other, Planning

Infrastructure Improvements; Public Services

$800,000

CHESTERFIELD, Cummington, Goshen, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg, Worthington Architectural Barrier Removal; Housing Rehabilitation (14 units); First Time Homebuyer Downpayment Assistance; Planning: Public Services $1,126,844

DARTMOUTH

Architectural Barrier Removal: Housing Rehabilitation (10 units) $505,337

DENNIS, Harwich

Housing Rehabilitation (27 units)

$999,765

ERVING, Bernardston, Colrain, Gill, Northfield, Rowe, Whately Design; Housing Rehabilitation (17 units) $969,024

EVERETT

Infrastructure Improvements; Public Services

$800,000

FAIRHAVEN

Housing Rehabilitation (4 units);

Infrastructure Improvements

$965,098

GARDNER

Demolition; Housing Rehabilitation (5units);Public Facilities Improvements -Senior Center; Public Services $800,000

GREAT BARRINGTON

Design, Infrastructure Improvements

$647,478

GREENFIELD

Commercial Rehabilitation (3 units); First Time Homebuyer Downpayment Assistance; Public Facilities Improvements - Park; Public Services $800,000

HUDSON

Public Facilities Improvements -Senior Center

$540,000

MILFORD

Housing Rehabilitation (8 units);

Infrastructure Improvements

$905,874

NORTH ADAMS

Infrastructure Improvements; Public Facilities

$800,000

NORWOOD

Housing Rehabilitation (12 units); Infrastructure Improvements $987,690

OAK BLUFFS, Tisbury

Housing Rehabilitation (18 units)

$615,909

ORANGE

Housing Rehabilitation (3 units); Infrastructure Improvements; Planning; Public Services $1,000,000

REVERE

Housing Rehabilitation (10 units);

Infrastructure Improvements

$800,000

RUSSELL, Chester, Huntington, Middlefield

Housing Rehabilitation (6 units); Infrastructure Improvements; Public Social Services $999,009

SALISBURY

Housing Rehabilitation (3 units); Infrastructure;

Public Social Services

$724,275

SPENCER

Housing Rehabilitation (20 units); Planning

$758,790

SOUTHBRIDGE

Commercial Rehabilitation (12 units); Housing Rehabilitation (7 units); Infrastructure Improvements $800,000

SOUTHWICK, Granville

Design; Housing Rehabilitation (12 units); Infrastructure Improvements $978,300

TEMPLETON

Housing Rehabilitation (9 units); Infrastructure $966,400

WARE

Infrastructure Improvements; Planning

Public Services

$800,000

WARE, Brookfield, Hardwick, Warren

Housing Rehabilitation (16 units);

Public Services

$661,597

WAREHAM

Design; Housing Rehabilitation (15 units); Code Enforcement; Public Services $800,000

WARREN

Design; Infrastructure Improvements;

Public Services

$787,623

WEBSTER

Infrastructure Improvements

$800,000

WELLFLEET, Provincetown

Housing Rehabilitation (18 units) $718,656 WEST SPRINGFIELD Housing Rehabilitation (11 units); Housing Code Enforcement; Infrastructure Improvements; Public Services $800,000