Stafford Getting Large Small Cities Grant

STAFFORD, CT — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Connecticut Department of Housing Commissioner Evonne M. Klein on Thursday announced that $10.5 million is being awarded to 16 municipalities — including Stafford — through the federal and sate subsidized Small Cities Grant Program to "provide infrastructure upgrades and improvements with the goal of combating blight, improving neighborhoods, and increasing economic development."

Stafford is receiving $400,000. The town will use the funding to continue its housing rehabilitation loan program to help low and moderate-income homeowners rehabilitate their houses. A total of 10 housing units are anticipated to be rehabilitated. Upgrades will include roof replacement, heating systems, window replacement, lead paint and asbestos removal, as well as electrical and code upgrades.

The grants are awarded through the Community Development Block Grant Small Cities program, which is administered by the state DOH with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grants are given to towns with populations of less than 50,000 and are designed to "advance projects that develop and preserve affordable housing, provide services to the most vulnerable residents in their communities, and also create and retain jobs."

Malloy said, “These projects will help so many local communities increase quality of life and make our state an even more attractive place to live, work and do business. These are investments in our neighborhoods, in the people who live here, and in our economic future.”

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel

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