Governor Rell Announces 29 Towns

Awarded Small Cities Funding

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced the state has awarded $13,550,000 in Small Cities grants for various projects in 29 towns.

“The mortgage crisis and national recession have taken a toll here in Connecticut. Although the worst appears to be behind us, in the last two years our citizens have had to make some tough choices and really alter the way they live,” said Governor Rell. “We want to help people keep their homes safe, secure and beautiful.”

“This funding round includes 22 grants to help make energy efficient upgrades, safety and security improvements, enhance accessibility and preserve housing in many communities — keeping many of our elderly and low- and moderate-income residents in their homes,” said Governor Rell.

In addition, several infrastructure projects, a senior center, town library and a façade program will be funded in the 2009 release of Small Cities grants. The complete breakdown by town is as follows:

Ashford will receive $300,000 for its townwide housing rehabilitation program to serve low- and moderate-income residents. Eligible activities include heating system repair, repairs to roof and electrical systems and green energy.

Berlin has been awarded $700,000 for sidewalks, parking lot work, energy conservation and ADA improvements at the Percival Heights Senior Housing Complex.

Bethel will use a $300,000 grant to conduct a townwide housing rehabilitation revolving loan program.  The town expects to assist 12-15 income eligible households correct health, safety and code violations.

Brooklyn’s $500,000 grant will help fund improvements on Tiffany Street. Along with the street reconstruction effort, drainage and pedestrian safety are issues that will be corrected in the area, including residents of affordable family housing assisted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Clinton has been awarded a $300,000 grant for a townwide housing rehabilitation program to assist the citizens of Clinton. This is the town’s first Small Cities Application.

Coventry plans to use its $300,000 award to continue its successful townwide housing rehabilitation program. The program provides technical assistance and low- or no-interest loans to low- and moderate-income property owners. Funds are generally used for housing repair and upgrades to roofs, windows, plumbing and electrical systems.

East Hampton proposes to use its $750,000 to rehabilitate and expand the town’s senior center.  The building, which has not had been renovated since its opening in 1989, needs ADA improvements and energy efficiency upgrades. The renovations would make the facility larger and add program space. Town studies suggest the elderly population will rise. 

East Haven will receive $300,000 to continue its townwide housing rehabilitation program, which provides funds as deferred or low-interest loans to low- and moderate-income persons for repairs.

East Windsor proposes to correct serious drainage and flooding problems in the Prospect Hill neighborhood with its $500,000 award. Because the road is breaking up and serious flooding and drainage issues exist, flooding of basements and yards is a frequent problem, which the Public Works Department is often called in to assist.

Farmington’s $700,000 grant will be used for renovations to Maple Village a 40-year-old senior/disabled housing project. The renovation will entail correction for energy and accessibility issues, new sidewalks and new energy efficient windows to repair drafts and security problems.

Jewett City has been awarded $700,000 for the rehabilitation at Ashland Manor Senior Housing. Work will consist of fire safety upgrades, rehabilitation of kitchen and bathrooms and modifications for accessibility for 20 units of elderly housing.

Killingly has been awarded a $500,000 grant to continue its townwide housing rehabilitation program to repair 15 low- and moderate-income units in the Danielson section.

Litchfield will use its $700,000 to undertake and complete a comprehensive and coordinated rehabilitation of Wells Run, a 30-unit senior housing complex. Wells Run needs new sidewalks, energy efficient upgrades and ADA accessibility improvements.

Middlefield expects to rehab 10 units of low- and moderate-income housing with a $300,000 award to continue its townwide housing rehabilitation program.

New Hartford will continue its townwide housing rehabilitation revolving loan program to assist income eligible applicants rehabilitate and preserve their housing units with a $300,000 grant. The town expects to assist 10 units/households.

Newington proposes to reconstruct and improve Mill Street Extension with a $500,000 grant. The project will allow a nonprofit developer to build a 32-unit assisted senior housing complex, provide improved sewer connections for 26-units of senior housing owned by the Newington Housing Authority nearby, and add parking for the town’s senior center, which is also located on Mill Street Extension.

North Branford will use a $700,000 grant to make improvements at Hillside Terrace, an affordable housing complex of 60 units for low-income seniors and disabled. The proposed renovations will provide for improvements to the entrance driveway, parking area and foot paths. Additional site lighting is proposed in the new parking areas and in other locations.

Plainville will receive $500,000 to complete sidewalk and drainage improvements on Whiting Street between Broad and East Streets. The project will correct severe problems and encourage pedestrian mobility in the area to access shopping and other services.

Plymouth plans to use its $300,000 award to continue its townwide housing rehabilitation program, which provides funds as deferred or low-interest loans to low- and moderate-income persons for rehabilitation of their housing units.

Putnam has been awarded $500,000 to rehabilitate various commercial facades in the town’s commercial district. There are 6 properties on a waiting list to access the funds, which can be used for improvements such as signage and lighting upgrades to visibly restore the area’s image. Putnam has successfully utilized a previous $500,000 Small Cities Grant along with a $100,000 Urban Act Grant for the same program. 

Sprague has been awarded $675,000 for ADA upgrades to the historic Grist Mill used for the public library and meeting space. The town plans to install an elevator to access the second and third floors.

Stafford will receive $500,000 to reconstruct a section of Prospect Street from Benton to High Street. The upgrades will address the public safety hazards in this older downtown neighborhood. The project, which will replace 1,800 feet of deteriorated sidewalks and 1,000 feet of road, will benefit the residents in the neighborhood who largely qualify in the low/moderate income level. A STEAP grant is also in place for the same project area. 

Suffield’s $125,000 award will go toward a project to correct deficiencies at the Bridge Street Senior Housing complex.  The Suffield Housing Authority will install new sidewalks at the senior housing complex and will replace various hot water heaters that have failed.

Tolland will use its $300,000 grant to continue its housing rehabilitation program for low- and moderate-income persons. The town will assist the homeowners with roofing replacements, foundation and chimney repairs, energy conservation, window replacements, plumbing, electrical and heating repairs.

Vernon’s $500,000 award will help the town continue the reconstruction of Prospect Street, which consists of pavement and traffic improvements, granite stone curbs, new concrete sidewalks, driveway ramps and drainage improvements that include replacement of catch basins and the main trunk line to replace the existing clay pipe.

Wallingford plans to use $700,000 for various improvements at Ulbrich Heights, a residential development comprised of 22 duplex buildings with a total of 44 units of affordable housing for families. The buildings are all two-story wood frame structures. The renovations proposed will replace roofs on all of the buildings and replace the old windows with new energy efficient units.

Willington has been awarded a $300,000 grant to start a townwide housing rehabilitation program for income eligible persons to correct serious code deficiencies, and increase energy efficiency.  The town estimates it can assist 12-14 households.

Windsor will use its $500,000 award to continue a townwide housing rehabilitation program, which provides funds as deferred or low-interest loans to low- and moderate-income persons for rehabilitation of their housing units.

Wolcott will receive $300,000 to continue its successful housing rehabilitation revolving loan fund program and provide affordable financing to additional low- and moderate-income households to correct serious existing housing deficiencies in their dwelling units.

The federally funded Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program is supplying these grants. Small Cities, through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides grants to eligible municipalities for economic development, affordable housing, community facilities and services, and downtown revitalization projects. The state’s Department of Economic and Community Development (www.decd.org) administers the funds.