On Tuesday, the Baker-Polito Administration announced the most recent round of Community Development Block Grant Awards, with Everett and Chelsea included in more than 40 awardees.
Forty-one communities were notified earlier this year of $34 million in federal funding to pursue important local projects, including housing rehabilitation, small infrastructure projects, and for local social services like youth programming or food banks.
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program represents the most direct funding that communities receive from the federal government. Funds can support a wide-range of projects to benefit low and moderate-income households in a community. Each year, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocates funding to Massachusetts, through the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). DHCD manages both a competitive round for qualifying communities, such as today’s awards, and allocates funding to the Commonwealth’s eleven mini-entitlement communities.
“Our administration is pleased to announce $34 million in federal funding to help 41 communities deliver vital services to residents and invest in local infrastructure,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “These grants will help municipalities fill key budget gaps created by the pandemic, enabling them to advance critical long-term projects while continuing to support residents in the fight against COVID-19.”
The awards will help municipalities rehabilitate more than 350 housing units, fund 17 infrastructure improvement projects, and fund supportive programming for children, teenagers, victims of domestic violence, homeless individuals, and the elderly.
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is a competitive grant program authorized by Congress, funded under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, and designed to help small cities and towns meet a broad range of community development needs. Assistance is provided to qualifying cities and towns for projects that assist low and moderate-income residents, or revitalize blighted areas. CDBG funds are allocated annually to the Commonwealth through HUD, and administered by DHCD. Since 2015, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded nearly $180 million in Community Development Block Grants to projects in more than 180 communities.
DHCD oversees funding and resources to help people in Massachusetts live affordably and safely. Through its community and private-sector partners, DHCD provides affordable housing options, financial assistance, and other support to Massachusetts communities.
•CHELSEA will receive $825,000 for Cherry Street road and sidewalk improvements, Chelsea Square Park improvements, housing rehabilitation assistance for 4 units and social service assistance to include youth services, ESOL and citizenship training.
•EVERETT will receive $825,000 to provide design for Chelsea Street playground improvements, a housing production plan, housing rehabilitation assistance for 11 units and social service assistance to include homelessness prevention, ESOL, youth services, elder services and a food pantry.