Poughkeepsie… Dutchess County Executive William R. Steinhaus announced the 2004 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awards totaling $1,933,000 for a range of projects across Dutchess County.

The County Executive said, “This year housing is the number one priority for Dutchess County in our Community Development program. Therefore, we have committed $266,000 of the grant to create housing for our citizens and to support the improvement of our existing housing stock through the volunteer based Rebuilding Together with Christmas in April program.”

The housing projects will prepare property in the Red Hook area for the construction of senior housing and acquisition of property in North East for the development of affordable senior and family housing. The Town of Pleasant Valley was the sponsor for funds for the Rebuilding Together with Christmas in April program to rehabilitate owner-occupied homes in the northern part of Dutchess County.

Other County priorities in the CDBG program include infrastructure; transportation; activities that benefit youth, offer literacy skills and provide family services for families-in-stress child care, and elder care; economic development; health services; handicapped accessibility for people with disabilities; public safety; substance abuse control; and parks and recreation and historic preservation.

Almost $480,000 will be applied to street, bridge and sidewalk improvements. Approved projects include sidewalks in the Towns of Amenia and Poughkeepsie and the Villages of Fishkill and Pawling and street improvements in the Town of Dover. $250,000 will improve water and wastewater systems in the Town of Pine Plains and Village of Wappingers Falls. Handicapped improvements costing $35,000 will take place in the Town of LaGrange at the Town Hall.

The City of Beacon will undertake a variety of activities with its guaranteed allocation. $219,280 will be used for infrastructure improvements. A percentage of the funds will be used for public safety in the business district. The remaining funds are set aside for the Beacon Community Center for facility improvements and economic development activities in the city.

County Executive Steinhaus also noted, “We are also pleased to be able to award grants to agencies throughout Dutchess County to address a variety of human service issues and to provide assistance to people in need including our youth, the homeless and our seniors citizens.”

Twelve human service providers have been allocated funds including: the Beacon Community Center, the Dutchess County Community Action Agency, the Martin Luther King Cultural Center and the North East Community Center for youth programs; the Dutchess County Association for Senior Citizens senior program; the Hudson River Housing River Haven Shelter, which provides for homeless and runaway youth; and Family Services which aids families in stress. Grace Smith House will receive funding for homeless victims of domestic violence and Hudson River Housing will serve homeless populations with CDBG monies. Funds will also be provided to the Child Abuse Prevention Center, Literacy Volunteers and the Astor Home for Children.

The CDBG funding is administered by the Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and provides grant funds to municipalities and human service agencies to benefit low-to-moderate income residents of Dutchess County.

For more information contact Elizabeth Doyle, Community Development Administrator Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development (845) 486-3600.

Municipality Appropriations:
Town of Amenia $ 90,000
Town of Dover $136,674
Town of Lagrange $ 35,000
Town of North East $108,000
Town of Pine Plains $125,000
Town of Pleasant Valley $ 13,000
Town of Poughkeepsie $135,250
Town & Village Red Hook $145,000
Village of Fishkill $ 74,236
Village of Pawling $ 43,000
Village of Wappingers Falls $100,000
 
Administration:
Dutchess County Admin. $316,600
Workforce Housing Coalition $ 40,000
ED Zone Admin. $ 25,000
ED Zone Admin./Hyde Park $ 5,000

City of Beacon:
Infrastructure $219,280
Beacon Community Center $ 15,000
Security Cameras $ 65,000
Economic Development Admin. $ 10,000
 
Human Service Agencies:
Astor Home for Children $ 18,000
Beacon Community Center $ 18,000
Child Abuse Prevention Ctr $ 23,000
DC Assoc. for Senior Citizens $ 13,000
DC Community Action Agency $ 18,000
Family Services, Inc. $ 23,000
Grace Smith House $ 18,000
Hudson River Housing, Inc. $ 23,000
Hudson River Housing, Inc. $ 23,000
Literacy Volunteers $ 23,000
Martin Luther King Cultural Ctr. $ 23,000
North East Community Center $ 8,960