Federal Community Development Block Grant money is geared toward low- and moderate income people and their neighborhoods.
Aaron Gornstein, undersecretary for the state Department of Housing and Community Develpment (DHCD), left, and Matthew Sheaff, the department's spoksperson, listen to Massachusetts Gov. Deval L. Patrick, announce a $31 million in federal block grants for community improvements from his car stuck in traffic on the Massachusetts Turnpike on Friday. The announcement was made to a press conference at Alice Corson Playground in West Springfield. WEST SPRINGFIELD
– Gov. Deval Patrick Friday announced the granting of $31 million in federal Community Development Block Grant money to 61 smaller communities around the state, including more than 20 in the Pioneer Valley.Grants to Pioneer Valley communities ranged from $426,406 to Montague to a total of $984,380 to Ware, Hardwick and Warren jointly.
Patrick made the announcement via speaker phone from the Massachusetts Turnpike to an afternoon press conference gathered here at Alice Corson Park .
“It is great to be able to assist West Springfield and about 20 other towns in Western Massachusetts,” Patrick said.
The governor apologized for not being able to attend the press conference in person, saying “I am creeping along in westbound, bumper-to-bumper traffic.”
He described the block grant program as one that stimulate jobs in local communities through such efforts as housing rehabilitation.
CDBG money comes from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. In Massachusetts, the state Department of Housing and Community Development distributes the money to communities of under 50,000 on a competitive basis. Communities of 50,000 and greater are funded directly by HUD. Money is geared toward low- and moderate-income people and neighborhood.
CDBG money supports areas like housing rehabilitation, public service projects, social service projects and local infrastructure.
US. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, spoke briefly, calling the program a favorite of mayors because it puts the purposes for which the money is used under local control. The former Springfield mayor said the project was initiated by President Gerald Ford and a Democratic Congress.
The congressman said the program is endangered and needs people to appeal for it to continue.
Aaron Gornstein, undersecretary of the state Department of Housing and Community Development, called the grants critical for improving the quality of municipalities.
“Not only will this funding revitalize communities by spurring economic development, but it will also create jobs throughout Massachusetts,” Gornstein said.
State Rep. Michael J. Finn, D-West Springfield, and state Sen. James T. Welch, D-West Springfield, also spoke briefly.
West Springfield was awarded $900,000 for projects ranging from rehabilitating 13 housing units to sidewalk improvement in the Memorial neighborhood. Funds will also help its Head Start program as well as other programs.
The following is a list of the other Pioneer Valley communities getting CDBG money and some of the purposes for which it will be used:
- Agawam, in conjunction with East Longmeadow, $753,977 to rehabilitate 10 housing units and for electrical updates and window replacement at Colonial Haven, an Agawam Housing Authority property.
- Amherst, $450,000 to do Amherst Community Childcare center flooring improvements and for a first-time home buyers program.
- Bernardston, along with Conway, Shutesbury and Sunderland, $1,100,000, to rehabilitate 22 housing units and to help a meals-on-wheels program.
- Chesterfield with Cummington, Plainfield, Westhampton and Williamsburg, $1,100,000 to rehabilitate 22 housing units and to provide social services like family counseling.
- Easthampton, $900,000 to rehabilitate four housing units and do sidewalk, roadway and other public works improvements.
- Greenfield, $900,000 to rehabilitate eight housing units, and to help adult literacy and other social service projects.
- Montague, $426,406 to rehabilitate four housing units and for a blight study of the Turners Falls Industrial District.
- Palmer, $430,899 to rehabilitate three housing units and aid domestic violence protection.
- Russell with Chester and Middlefield, $1,000,000 to rehabilitate five housing units and to fund water improvements and domestic violence protection.
- Shelburne with Buckland, $687,373 to do work at Highland Village Housing in Shelburne and for work on Sears Street in Buckland.
- Ware, with Hardwick and Warren, $984,380, to rehabilitate 20 housing units and to increase adult literacy.