West Hartford Seeks $1M Ideas For Special Federal Grant

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Every year, the town receives nearly $1 million in state funding aimed at improving programs for and the situation of low- to moderate-income residents.

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, residents are invited to gather and discuss who could benefit from this cash and how they can be helped.

Residents are invited to an open house on Wednesday, Oct. 23, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Elmwood Community Center, 1106 New Britain Ave., West Hartford.

The grant is called the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and it is "administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development it provides federal grant funding to state and local governments," according to the town.

Municipalities like West Hartford then apply for the funding and, upon receipt, it decides where it goes.

The Town of West Hartford is in the process of developing the five-year "Consolidated Plan for its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)."

There, residents will learn about the consolidated planning process, discuss community needs, and provide input on which projects West Hartford should prioritize for CDBG funding, which amounts to about $997,000 a year in the town.

An example of what such grants can fund include the "rehabilitation of residential and non-residential structures as well as the construction of public facilities and improvements, such as water and sewer facilities, streets, and neighborhood centers, and the conversion of school buildings for eligible purposes," according to the Town of West Hartford.

For more information about the CDBG program in West Hartford, click on this link.