Small Towns Getting $28 Million in Development Aid
By Marty Toohey
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2002–Connecticut is receiving $28.4 million in small-community aid from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, Connecticut Rep. Rob Simmons (D-2) announced Wednesday.
The state Department of Economic and Community Development will distribute the money to cities with fewer than 50,000 residents or counties with fewer than 200,000. Areas with larger populations already receive HUD aid.
The $28.4 million is part of an annual package of “community development block grants” given by HUD. The grants provide aid for low-and-moderate-income residents and supplemental funding to communities so they can produce affordable homes, either through new construction or rehabilitation of old structures.
Simmons encouraged residents and communities around the state to apply for aid.
“The money can be used for housing rehabilitation, public improvements and facilities like parks” as well as economic development programs, he said.
Community development block grants were first awarded in 1974 for communities to foster their own development priorities. The money traditionally has been used for affordable housing, but increasingly is used for economic development.
When HUD releases grant money, it informs members of Congress representing the states involved, and those members make the public announcement.
Published in The New Britain Herald, in Connecticut.
