McHugh Announces Over $4.4M in Community Development Grants

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 8  —  Congressman John M. McHugh, R- Pierrepont Manor, announced today that Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties received a total of $4,448,000 in Community Development Block Grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

The grant money will support specific housing projects in the counties. The CDBG program is a federal program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. The federal money is coupled with local and private support.

“Community development grants provide the funding localities need to revitalize low and moderate income housing, bringing benefit to individual residents and the community as a whole. HUD’s decision to provide over $4.4 million in federal money to Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties will facilitate a variety of public-private revitalization partnerships,” said Congressman McHugh. “The CDBG grant program is one of HUD’s longest continuously run programs, allowing localities to undertake much needed projects.”

Specific Project Descriptions

Jefferson County

City of Watertown – $400,000 for Downtown Rental Apartments: the City of Watertown will rehabilitate six existing apartments and construct eight new apartments in vacant upper floors of commercial buildings.

County of Jefferson – $500,000 for the Housing Rehab Program: the County will use the CDBG funds for a community-wide housing rehabilitation program. The program will rehabilitate 22 owner-occupied units in severely substandard condition that will significantly improve the living conditions of 39 people. The assistance will be up to $25,000 in the form of a deferred payment loan with a term of five years.

Village of Carthage – $400,000 for the Housing Preservation Program: the Village is proposing to utilize the CDBG funds to rehabilitate 13 severely substandard (owner-occupied) single-housing units, which will benefit 25 persons, five severely substandard (renter-occupied) multi-housing units benefiting 12 persons, and one severely substandard vacant rental unit. 

St. Lawrence County

Town of Edwards – $400,000 for the Housing Rehab Program: St. Lawrence County, on behalf of the Town of Edwards, and working with the St. Lawrence County Housing Council as a subrecipient, is proposing to use the CDBG funds to rehabilitate 12 owner-occupied units throughout the Town. This will benefit 36 low- and moderate-income persons. The average cost of rehabilitation is $31,024 per unit, with a maximum of $50,000 per unit.

Town of Morristown – $400,000 for the Brier Hill Housing Rehab Program: St. Lawrence County, on behalf of the Town of Morristown, and working with the St. Lawrence County Housing Council as a subrecipient, is proposing to use $400,000 in CDBG funds to rehabilitate 12 units (9 owner-occupied and 3 renter-occupied) in the Brier Hill area. This will benefit 40 low- and moderate-income persons.

Village of Gouverneur – $400,000 for the Main Street Revitalization Project: the Village of Gouverneur will create eight new apartments in downtown Gouverneur, and provide streetscape and facade improvements. The program proposed in this application is the third phase of a multi-year effort to promote investment in the commercial blocks of the Central Business District.

Village of Massena – $398,000 for the Northeast Housing Rehab Program: the Village of Massena proposes to implement a scattered-site housing rehabilitation program in the northeast quadrant of the village. This rehabilitation program will be combined with significant infrastructure investments made by the Village to constitute the Northeast Housing Rehabilitation Program. The Village anticipates that 16 substandard units occupied by low-and moderate-income households will be rehabilitated benefitting 34 persons.

Village of Norwood – $400,000 for the Housing Rehab Program: St. Lawrence County, on behalf of the Village of Norwood, and working with the St. Lawrence County Housing Council as a subrecipient, is proposing to use the funds to rehabilitate 14 units (12 owner-occupied and two rental-occupied) throughout the Village and benefiting 37 low- and moderate-income persons.

Village of Potsdam - $400,000 for the Housing Rehab Program: the Village of Potsdam will use the funds to support three activities: housing rehabilitation assistance for 12 units, targeted code enforcement to 60 residential units, and home maintenance training to 30 individuals.

St. Lawrence County - $750,000 for the Homeownership Assistance Program: the County will provide homeownership assistance to 33 low- and moderate-income households. The County intends to provide qualified participants with secured grants of up to $27,000 toward down payment and closing costs associated with the purchase of a home. The County plans to continue its partnership with the St. Lawrence County Housing Council for administration and Program Delivery activities.

Official: Rep. John M. McHugh