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Mayor Scott W. Lang announced today the recipients of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding of $2,741,178. Each year, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development allocates critical funding to New Bedford for community development activities. Funds are used to address community revitalization efforts through assistance to community based organizations and city departments that provide housing, economic development, public services and infrastructure improvements to assist in addressing the community based needs in New Bedford. In addition to CDBG funding, the City also receives funding through the HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) and Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) programs. The CDBG program is administered locally through the City’s Office of Housing and Community Development.
The CDBG program provides critical funding to communities like New Bedford across the nation to address housing, community, and economic development needs. The program which began in 1974 has provided over $100 million to the City of New Bedford. The City received approximately $2.7 million in CDBG funding this year and leveraged millions of dollars in private investment to provide programs and services to New Bedford residents of low and moderate incomes. Each year, beginning in December, the City, through the Office of Housing and Community Development, initiates a comprehensive public input process to gather information and input to determine the greatest needs for these federal resources in the community. Residents, businesses and community agencies all provide critical information to assist in addressing the needs of low and moderate income residents.
“This funding is an important source of support for critical infrastructure projects, economic development programs New Bedford’s nonprofit partners who are involved in addressing quality of life, health, and education issues,” said Mayor Scott W. Lang.
Patrick Sullivan, Director of the Office of Housing and Community Development added, “The CDBG program remains the lifeline to building stronger neighborhoods, as is considered by Congress to be one of the most successful federal block grant programs in history.”
2011 CDBG funding has been awarded to some 29 non-profit agencies and various city departments to provide services and undertake activities to revitalize New Bedford. Examples of upcoming projects are:
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ($350,000)
Improvements include the reconstruction and repaving of streets and sidewalks in several of the City’s low‐income census tracts as well as the improvements to the Acushnet Avenue corridor, improvement of vacant lots through the vacant lot restoration and community garden projects.
PUBLIC FACILITIES ($662,000)
Renovations to the Hillman Street Complex, Brooklawn Park Playground upgrades, and restorations to the Zeiterion Theatre Façade.
PUBLIC SERVICES ($450,330)
Funding to 29 non-profits and city departments providing services including, but not limited to: programs for youth, individuals with disabilities, senior citizen population, services for victims of domestic violence, youth outreach programs, legal assistance, counseling subsidies for low and moderate income persons, hunger relief and art therapy.
HOUSING AND REHABILITATION ($680,000)
Funded provided for several housing rehabilitation programs, including lead based paint removal; Programs will also offer a counseling program for first‐time homebuyers.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ($384,000)
Economic development assistance projects sponsored by the City’s economic development agency: New Bedford Economic Development Council, Inc. (NBEDC).
Community Development Block Grant Activities 2011
| Access for Community Enhancement Services | Activities for People with Disabilities |
| Advocacy Resource Center for Greater NB | Resource center for citizens with disabilities |
| Art Therapy Inspirational Art for Seniors, Inc. | Healing Emotions through Art |
| ArtWorks! Partners for the Arts & Community | Teens Reach Beyond – After School Arts |
| Boys’ & Girls’ Club of Greater New Bedford | Youth Outreach Transportation Project |
| Brick by Brick, Inc. | Creative Careers |
| Coastline Elderly Services | Community Mainstream |
| Department of Community Services | Community Elder Programs & Services Project |
| Department of Community Services | Community Outreach Project |
| Department of Community Services | Kennedy Summer Day Program |
| Department of Community Services | Youth Summer Employment Program |
| Department of Community Services | After School Activities |
| Police Department – Domestic Violence Unit | Domestic Violence Intern Coordinator Project |
| Easter Seals Massachusetts | Training & Technologies Center |
| Immigrants Assistance Center, Inc. | Social Services for Non-English Speaking Residents |
| Neighborhood Housing Services of the South Sho | Foreclosure Counseling |
| New Bedford Museum & Art Center, Inc. | artMOBILE 2010 |
| SEMCOA, Inc. | Wrap House–Case Management |
| New Bedford Symphony Orchestra Association, Inc. | SchoolsMusic! |
| New Center for Legal Advocacy | Housing Law Project |
| NorthStar Learning Center | Acushnet Heights Youth Club |
| NorthStar Learning Center | Farmers Market at Clasky Common |
| Old Dartmouth Historical Society (NB Whaling Museum) | Youth Apprenticeship Program |
| PACE (People Acting in Community Endeavors) | Youth United Basketball |
| PACE (People Acting in Community Endeavors) | Youthbuild Summer Employment |
| People Supporting Independent Leisure, Inc. | Trans. Resources for Common Inclusion |
| Team Builders, Inc. | Family Performing Arts Center |
| Trips for Kids New Bedford, inc. | Explore Your Environment |
| UMASS Dartmouth | SouthCoast ComPeer |
| United Way Hunger Commission | The Hunger Relief Project |
| Department of Public Infrastructure | Paving of roadways disturbed by the installation of new water mains in the eligible City Census Tracts |
| Office of Housing and Community Development | Brooklawn Park Project |
| Office of Housing and Community Development | Vacant Lot Restoration – Creating pocket green spaces for passive enjoyment in city-owned vacant lots in eligible census tracts |
| Office of Housing and Community Development | Creation of community garden grant program to promote the development of community gardens |
| Office of Housing and Community Development | Andrea McCoy Gymnasium |
| Zeiterion Theatre | Exterior Repairs & Restoration |
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