Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced $14,134,490 in federal funding for 22 community development projects through the Virginia Community Development Block Grant (VCDBG) program. The grants, which will fund a variety of projects – from housing revitalization to water and sewer infrastructure, to broadband and economic and downtown revitalization – are expected to benefit 3,790 Virginians, of which 2,899 are low-to-moderate income.
“These community improvement projects address a number of critical issues throughout the Commonwealth,” said Governor Kaine. “While a majority of these awards go toward creating safe and affordable housing and water for Virginians, there is also important funding for broadband, and economic and downtown revitalization efforts that will help our communities grow and improve the quality of life for their citizens.”
“We feel these projects will result in significant benefits for the citizens of Virginia,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Patrick Gottschalk. “These grants also provide communities with additional opportunities for future growth.”
Since 1982, the federally-funded VCDBG program has been administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and Virginia receives up to $19 million annually for this “small cities” grant program. VCDBG grants are awarded through a competitive process. Most projects benefit low- and moderate-income persons, and many projects are targeted for the prevention or elimination of slums and blighting conditions.
Several projects are noted as either Multi-Year or Letter-of-Intent projects. Multi-year projects are those that will receive a contract allocating funds for one year, and after achieving specific performance targets, will then be eligible for another year of funding. Letter-of-Intent projects are those which will be awarded after the locality meets specific targets.
“Quality of life for Virginians means having a safe, affordable and prosperous community in which to live, work and do business,” said Bill Shelton, DHCD Director. “Creating better communities in which to live is the goal of our agency, and these grants are focused directly on that goal.”
The grant will apply to various Virginia projects, but three projects are located within the fifth district. The first concerns the Old Madison Heights Revitalization Project, Phase I Stump Hill area in Amherst County. The county will address substandard housing and infrastructure conditions in the Stump Hill community, as the first step of the larger Old Madison Heights neighborhood revitalization.
The project will include the rehabilitation of eight owner-occupied homes, the substantial reconstruction of one owner-occupied home, the rehabilitation of one rental home, demolition and clearance of three vacant and dilapidated structures, installation of approximately 1,450 linear feet of water line, connection of sanitary sewer to five homes, and roadway and drainage improvements. The project is expected to benefit approximately 42 persons, at least 34 of whom are low-to-moderate income. This project’s funds total $1,190,509.
The second project focuses on the South Street Neighborhood Improvement Project in Henry County. The county will implement a neighborhood improvement project in the South Street area of the Bassett community. The project will include the rehabilitation of four owner-occupied homes, the rehabilitation of ten renter occupied single-family homes and four multi-family renter occupied units, the substantial reconstruction of three owner-occupied homes, demolition and removal of two dilapidated vacant structures, 5,500 cubic yards of excavation, 1,340 linear feet of ditches, 3,554 square yards of new road construction, and the replacement of 1,570 linear feet of water line and 2,125 linear feet of sewer line.
This latter project is expected to benefit 49 persons, 47 of who are low-to-moderate income at a cost of $2,169,853.
Finally, the Simmons Drive Community Improvement Project, located in Brunswick County will reduce substandard housing conditions and improve infrastructure in the Simmons Drive community. The project will include the rehabilitation of five owner-occupied homes; the substantial reconstruction of one owner-occupied home; the rehabilitation of five renter occupied homes; the demolition and removal of two dilapidated vacant structures; the installation of 1,770 linear feet of water line, 2,620 linear feet of gravity sewer, 2,700 linear feet of one-and-one-half-inch sewer force main, and appurtenances; and the construction of approximately 3,000 centerline feet of residential street.
This last project is expected to benefit 51 persons, 46 of whom are low-to-moderate income at a cost of $1,127,855.
