Island Towns Receive over $2M in Federal Grants

Governor Deval Patrick today announced that 46 cities and towns across the Commonwealth will receive $26.8 million in federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to support housing rehabilitation, public service projects and local infrastructure. 

“These grants are critical investments to help communities fix-up homes and roadways and provide much-needed local services for residents while putting people to work,” said Governor Patrick. “We thank the Obama Administration and our Congressional delegation for their continued support of our communities.”

“The Community Development Block Grants help improve the quality of our municipalities,” said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray. “As we continue to invest in cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth, this funding will go towards revitalizing our streets and neighborhoods, helping to put our communities and residents on the path to economic recovery.”

The CDBG program is the Commonwealth’s largest available resource for neighborhood revitalization projects and helps meet the housing and public service needs of low- and moderate-income communities while building and repairing infrastructure vital to the health and safety of all residents. The infrastructure projects help communities create and maintain jobs while providing important improvements to the lives of residents in each city and town. Historically, 40 percent of CDBG funds distributed have been used for these job-creating projects.

Edgartown, jointly with Aquinnah, Chilmark and West Tisbury, received a combined grant of $1,082,943 for housing rehabilitation and social services for childcare assistance. And Oak Bluffs, jointly with Tisbury, received a combined grant of $991,009 for housing rehabilitation and social services for childcare assistance.

Congressman Bill Keating said, “The CDBG program is one of the most flexible and valuable resources available to our cities and towns - providing economic opportunities, building community character, enhancing quality of life, and revitalizing our neighborhoods. I am certain the grants to Dennis, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Provincetown, and Truro will make a positive impact to the towns’ residents in countless ways.”

Editor’s Note: This information comes from a Press Release