Block Grant Funds Headed To Mansfield, Coventry For Housing Rehab

HARTFORD, CT — Gov. Ned Lamont and Connecticut Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno Monday announced that the Connecticut Department of Housing is awarding $10.7 million in grants to five municipalities — including Mansfield and Coventry — for infrastructure upgrades that will modernize and rehabilitate housing for low and moderate-income residents.

The funds are being released through the Community Development Block Grant Small Cities program, which is administered by the Connecticut Department of Housing with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Under the program, eligible projects are required to be in a municipality with a population of fewer than 50,000 residents.

The grants will advance the preservation and development of affordable housing, modernize a domestic violence shelter, enhance services to the most vulnerable residents in their communities, and also help to create and retain jobs.

"These housing grants go a long way to improving neighborhoods so that we can make our communities more attractive and encourage continued growth for the benefit of all our residents," Lamont said. "I thank Connecticut’s Congressional delegation for prioritizing the CDBG Small Cities program, which provides necessary support for our smaller communities."

Added Bruno,"Connecticut’s smaller towns contribute so much to our high quality of life. Whether it’s ensuring senior living facilities are ADA compliant or upgrading existing infrastructure to support long-term growth, these investments are essential to our communities and day-to-day-lives of our residents."

Grants are being awarded to:

• Coventry – Orchard Hill Estates Public Housing Modernization ($2,000,000): The Town of Coventry will replace the aging driveway and add additional parking spaces, including the required number of ADA spaces; upgrade the exterior lighting; upgrade and interconnect the two existing water systems, as recommended by the Department of Public Health; replace heat pumps at each unit; construct ADA-compliant outdoor gazebos for tenant use; replace existing garbage sheds with enclosures that are ADA-compliant; address drainage issues on both side yards of the front property; replace storm and exterior doors; and replace the security camera system.

• Mansfield – Wright’s Village Public Housing Modernization ($2,200,000): Funding will be used for the replacement of windows and exterior doors; replacement of the roof; replacement of trash receptacles and enclosures; and paving and sidewalk repairs.