Southbridge receives $750,000 Community Development Grant

Governor Patrick Announces $40 million in Federal Grants and Recovery Funds for Statewide Improvement Projects

BOSTON – Rep. Geraldo Alicia (D-Charlton) and Sen. Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) recently announced that Southbridge will receive $750,000 in federal funds for housing rehabilitation and various targeted projects in the town of Southbridge. Such projects will include the rehabilitation of eight housing units, restoration of Morris, Worcester, and Coombs street’s sidewalks, park driveway and entrance reconstruction, as well as design roadway and sidewalks improvements. 

The funding comes as Governor Deval Patrick announced today that Massachusetts will receive $40.36 million in federal Community Development Block Grants to fund infrastructure upgrade projects, boost social services and increase housing, business and economic development opportunities in 75 communities across the state. 

“I am thrilled that this funding was awarded by the CDBG program for the town of Southbridge”, said Representative Alicea. “Not only will this subsidy help to create jobs, but it will help fund the much need local infrastructure and housing rehabilitation projects that will ultimately improve the quality of life for the residents of Southbridge." 

Commenting on the grant, Senator Moore added, “The local officials in Southbridge deserve to be commended for presenting project applications that will produce jobs and improve their community,” Sen. Moore stated. “In this time of limited public resources, the state is able to partner with the federal government to help promote our long-term economic recovery from the recession while bringing federal dollars to further enhance our towns."

More than $31 million of the state’s award comes from annual CDBG program funding with the remaining $9 million coming to Massachusetts through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. 

The CDBG program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and funds are distributed by the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to cities and towns in Massachusetts with populations of less than 50,000. Funds are awarded competitively and are targeted to support community revitalization, meet the housing and social 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 funding directly from HUD. The maximum grant for a single community is $750,000 or $900,000 for a single community undertaking multiple, geographically targeted activities. Regional applications are accepted.

65 Massachusetts cities and towns will receive regular CDBG program funding from DHCD. With the addition of recovery funds, 9 of those communities, and another 10 towns, will also receive support for projects that were not successful in getting funded in Fiscal Year 2008.

"Competition for these very popular and flexible grants is great, and because resources are limited, we sometimes can’t fund every worthwhile project," said state Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Tina Brooks. "We are delighted that many good projects, including a number of public housing capital improvement proposals that we couldn’t fund in 2008, can now move forward thanks to the use of these federal recovery funds."