For Immediate Release
Contact
June 9, 2006
Kevin Hall
804-225-4260
804-393-9406 (cell)
Shea Hollifield
Dep't of Housing and Community Development
(804) 371-7031
(804) 840-4818 (cell)
www.dhcd.virginia.gov
Governor Kaine Announces $7 Million in Grants to Improve
Virginia Communities
– Projects will serve nearly 3,000 Virginians
through improved housing, infrastructure, downtown revitalization, and healthcare
programs –
RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced nearly $7 million in 2006 Community Development Block Grant offers to 17 Virginia localities. The grants will benefit low- and moderate-income residents, and will support community and economic development projects such as housing creation and rehabilitation, public water and sewer systems, downtown revitalization, and healthcare programs.
“These grants help us achieve our goal of creating stable, rejuvenated neighborhoods that serve as the foundation for Virginia’s future,” Governor Kaine said. “Our administration is committed to strengthening our communities and our economy by working to provide safe, decent, and affordable housing, and access to a reliable source of clean water for all our residents.”
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) administers the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for the state. Virginia receives up to $20 million annually from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the CDBG program. DHCD allocates the funds on a competitive basis to eligible non-metropolitan cities, counties, and towns. In accordance with federal law, the majority of CDBG projects benefit low- and moderate-income persons.
“In addition to providing for critical housing and infrastructure improvements, some of these grants will help revitalize our small towns through the development of downtown housing,” Secretary of Commerce and Trade Patrick O. Gottschalk said. “Funds can also be used by businesses to make improvements that will make our downtowns more appealing as well as expand and create jobs. In other cases, rural communities that are medically underserved will now have access to quality, affordable healthcare.”
Eleven of the 17 approved projects will create new or rehabilitate housing to ensure safe and affordable housing options low- and moderate- income Virginians.
“Our agency is committed to working in the neediest areas of Virginia to eliminate substandard housing and improve the overall quality of life,” said Bill Shelton, DHCD Director. “DHCD is proud to offer these grants which will significantly impact the lives of many low-income families throughout Virginia.”
Details of the grant award projects and amounts are listed below. For more information about the CDBG program contact DHCD at (804) 371-7000 or visit www.dhcd.virginia.gov.
| Project Title | Locality | Elected Official | Funding Sources | Funds Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Downtown Revitalization Project | Alberta, Town of | Melissa Parrish, Mayor | VCDBG, Local and Private | $ 1,047,459 |
| Project Description: The Town will revitalize the central business district area through the elimination of physical blight and removal of barriers to economic development. Bringing together public and private partners, the project will create a façade program to improve 11 structures in the project area. Additionally, the project will result in the rehabilitation of five residential units, drainage improvements that will include the installation of 2,948 linear feet of curb and gutter and 1,000 square yards of asphalt, improvements to the Alberta Town Square, installation of 3,378 square yards of sidewalks, and installation of 15 street lights. A total of 12 persons will benefit from the housing rehabilitation component of this project, of whom all are low- and moderate- income. | ||||
| Bland County Medical Expansion Project | Bland County | Henry Blessing, Board of Supervisors Chair | VCDBG, Private and Federal | $ 1,636,283 |
| Project Description: The Bland County Medical Clinic will be expanded to accommodate growing demand for services. The expansion will include the construction of a 7,853 square foot addition, renovation of the existing building, and the addition of eight exam rooms, a larger nurses’ station, a patient education office, a mental health office, and a secure storage area for medical supplies. A sliding fee scale will be used in order to offer affordable health care to low-income clients. A projected 1,747 new clients will be treated annually at the facility, of which approximately 76 percent will be low- and moderate- income. | ||||
| Skipwith Road Housing Rehabilitation Project | Boydton, Town of | Charles P. Reamy, Mayor | VCDBG, Local | $ 642,330 |
| Project Description: The Town will provide housing rehabilitation to a total of 16 substandard homes in the Skipwith Road and Park Drive community. A total of 13 homes will be rehabilitated and three homes will be substantially reconstructed (replaced) to meet DHCD Housing Quality Standards. The project will benefit a total of 34 persons, all of whom are low- and moderate- income. | ||||
| Hurley Flood Recovery Rehabilitation Project – Phase IV | Buchanan County | Roger Rife, Board of Supervisors Chair | VCDBG, Private | $ 544,000 |
| Project Description: On May 2, 2002, the community of Hurley experienced a devastating flood that severely damaged more than 100 homes. This project represents part of the ongoing flood recovery project and will result in the substantial reconstruction of 11 substandard homes. The project will benefit a total of 28 persons, all of whom are low- and moderate- income. | ||||
| Six and Twenty Mile Creek Water Project | Buchanan County | Roger Rife, Board of Supervisors Chair | VCDBG, State, Local and Federal | $ 1,479,993 |
| Project Description: The County will provide a public water system for a community that currently experiences problems with the quantity and quality of the available water sources. Presently, these households are not served by a public water distribution system and rely on wells, springs, cisterns, and in some cases, hauling water from other sources, to meet their needs. The project will provide for the installation of 1,200 linear feet of six-inch water line, 19,550 linear feet of four-inch water line, 1,600 linear feet of two-inch service line, 2,200 linear feet of one-inch service line, 1,100 linear feet of three-quarter- inch service line, one 10,000 gallon water tank, three pitless booster pump stations, and 33 service meters. A total of 74 persons will benefit from this project, of whom 70 are low- to moderate- income. | ||||
| Clinchco Housing Rehabilitation Project – Downtown Service Area | Clinchco, Town of | Randy Moore, Mayor | VCDBG, Local | $ 526,000 |
| Project Description: The Town will provide housing rehabilitation to a total of 12 substandard homes in the Downtown area. A total of nine homes will be rehabilitated and three homes will be substantially reconstructed (replaced) to meet DHCD Housing Quality Standards. The project will benefit a total of 31 persons, all of whom are low- and moderate- income. | ||||
| Commerce-Hill Streets Neighborhood Improvement Project | Culpeper, Town of | Pranas A. Rimeikis, Mayor | VCDBG, Private, and Local | $ 1,509,568 |
| Project Description: The Town will undertake a comprehensive improvement project in the Commerce-Hill Streets Neighborhood. Activities include the rehabilitation of 43 housing units to DHCD Housing Quality Standards, the acquisition and rehabilitation of one vacant unit that will be sold to a qualified low- to moderate- income household, installation of 400 linear feet of curb and gutter, repair of 12 linear feet of curb and gutter, installation of 11 driveway aprons, installation of 486 square yards of sidewalk, installation of seven handicap curb ramps, and replacement of one fire hydrant. The project will benefit a total of 184 persons, of whom 169 are low- and moderate- income. | ||||
| Washington Park Community Improvement Program – Phase II | Greensville County | Peggy R. Wiley, Board of Supervisors Chair | VCDBG, Private, and Local | $ 1,088,190 |
| Project Description: The County will substantially improve the living conditions in the Washington Park community by rehabilitating substandard housing and correcting deficient infrastructure issues. This project will result in the rehabilitation of five houses, substantial reconstruction of eight houses, and demolition of three vacant, dilapidated units. The County will also create affordable homeownership opportunities for six low- to moderate- income families who are currently leasing their housing units. Infrastructure improvements will also be completed, to include the installation of 200 square yards of sidewalk, 550 linear feet of curb and gutter, 120 square yards of entrance gutter, 500 linear feet of roadway, and drainage improvements. The project will benefit a total of 53 persons, of whom 39 are low- and moderate- income persons. | ||||
| Sunnybrooke Subdivision Housing Production – Section II | Halifax County | William I. Fitzgerald, Board of Supervisors Chair | VCDBG, Private, and Local | $ 1,354,750 |
| Project Description: The County will continue to provide affordable housing opportunities in the Sunnybrooke Subdivision through the acquisition of open lots and construction of single-family homes. A total of ten lots will be developed and housing will be made available to ten low- to moderate income first time homebuyers. The project will benefit approximately 25 persons, all of whom are low- and moderate- income. | ||||
| Lebanon Housing Rehabilitation Project – Town Wide Phase III | Lebanon, Town of | Nelson A. Dodi, Mayor | VCDBG, Local | $ 680,000 |
| Project Description: The Town will rehabilitate 11 substandard homes and substantially reconstruct two homes to meet DHCD Housing Quality Standards. This project will eliminate health and safety hazards due to substandard housing conditions and will improve the aesthetic nature of the community through the clean-up and removal of garbage and debris. The project will benefit a total of 35 persons, all of whom are low- and moderate- income. | ||||
| Robbins Chapel Water Extension – Phase II | Lee County | John W. Bledsoe, Board of Supervisors Chair | VCDBG, State, and Federal | $ 1,990,136 |
| Project Description: The County will provide a public water system for the Hoover Hill, Shepherd Hill, and Sigma communities in the Robbins Chapel area. The residents in these areas rely on individual private systems which are generally poor in quality and do not provide an adequate quantity to meet their daily needs. This project will result in the installation of 2,000 linear feet of ten-inch water line, 1,000 linear feet of eight-inch water line, 25,750 linear feet of six-inch water line, 1,000 linear feet of four-inch water line, 4,000 linear feet of three-quarter-inch water line, a 75,000 gallon storage tank, a booster pump station, water service line and appurtenances, and 12 fire hydrants. A total of 174 persons will benefit from this project, of whom 135 are low- and moderate- income. | ||||
| Witcher Road Housing Rehabilitation Project | Pittsylvania County | M. Kate Berge, Board of Supervisors Chair | VCDBG, State, Private, and Local | $ 954,518 |
| Project Description: The County will provide housing rehabilitation to a total of 14 substandard homes in the Witcher Road community. A total of seven homes will be rehabilitated and seven homes will be substantially reconstructed (replaced) to meet DHCD Housing Quality Standards. Presently, seven of the homes do not have adequate indoor plumbing and pose a significant health risk. The project will also include drainage improvements to control water run-off and will remove debris from the neighborhood. A total of 30 persons will benefit from this project, all of whom are low- and moderate- income. | ||||
| Saltville Downtown Revitalization Project | Saltville, Town of | Jeffrey L. Campbell, Mayor | VCDBG, State, Federal, Private, and Local | $ 5,111,387 |
| Project Description: The Town will implement a revitalization project to transform the downtown area into a thriving commercial center. As a result, the current central parking area will be converted into a Commons area, drainage improvements will be made to improve the economic viability of businesses currently impacted by storm water, fiber optic infrastructure will be installed, 3,000 linear feet of sidewalks will be installed, and ten blighted commercial structures will be improved. A cultural and heritage-based economic development strategy will be implemented to help establish the Town as a tourist destination. | ||||
| Pinewood Heights Redevelopment Project – Phase 1 | Smithfield, Town of | James B. Chapmen, Mayor | VCDBG, State, and Local | $ 3,268,800 |
| Project Description: The Town will undertake a comprehensive community development project to improve the living conditions for residents of the Pinewood Heights community. A total of 20 homes will be rehabilitated to DHCD Housing Quality Standards and the project will include the acquisition of 32 housing units, including 15 duplexes, two single-family homes, and 11 vacant lots. Relocation assistance will be provided for the 31 occupied housing units, consisting of nine homeowners and 22 renters. A total of 32 structures will be demolished. A total of 108 persons will benefit from this project, of whom 99 are low- and moderate- income. | ||||
| A.P. Carter Highway Water Project | Scott County | Dr. David Redwine, Board of Supervisors Chair | VCDBG, State, and Local | $ 1,140,037 |
| Project Description: The County will install a public water system for the A.P. Carter community, an area that has persistent problems with water quality and quantity. This project will result in the installation of 4,000 linear feet of eight-inch water line, 14,765 linear feet of six-inch water line, 6,500 linear feet of four-inch water line, 1,800 linear feet of three-quarter- inch water line, 4,175 linear feet of three-quarter- inch service line, and 20 fire hydrants. A total of 106 persons will benefit from this project, of whom 78 are low- and moderate- income. | ||||
| Crooked Lane Housing Project | Stephens City, Town of | Ray E. Ewing, Mayor | VCDBG, Private, and Local | $ 1,777,395 |
| Project Description: The Town will partner with Habitat for Humanity to make comprehensive improvements in the Crooked Lane and Rowe Lane area. Through this project, three substandard homes will be rehabilitated to DHCD Housing Quality Standards and Habitat for Humanity will build five homes for low- income families in a newly created subdivision. The project will also result in the installation of 1,575 linear feet of eight-inch water sanitary sewer, 850 linear feet of six-inch water line, and demolition of one derelict structure. A total of 39 persons will are projected to benefit from this project, of whom 34 are low- and moderate- income. | ||||
| Lower Birchfield Water Extension | Wise County | Fred A. Luntsford, Jr., Board of Supervisors Chair | VCDBG, State, and Local | $ 2,374,007 |
| Project Description: The Lower Birchfield community will be provided a reliable and safe public water system that will remedy water quality and quantity problems that have impacted the area. This project will result in the installation of 10,570 linear feet of eight-inch water line, 33,100 linear feet of six-inch water line, 5,950 linear feet of four-inch water line, 1,815 linear feet of two-inch water line, 3,200 linear feet of three-quarter- inch water line, a 91,000 gallon water storage tank, and 20 fire hydrants. A total of 198 persons will benefit from this project, of whom 142 are low- and moderate- income. | ||||
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