Town Of Arlington: Celebrating National Community Development Week

Press release from Town of Arlington:

03/26/2021

The Town of Arlington’s Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) is pleased to announce that it joins the National Community Development Association and others in celebrating National Community Development Week from April 5th through 9th. The featured events are a panel on food security in Arlington and a social media campaign highlighting Arlington’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)-recipient organizations and their work supporting the community.

The CDBG program, administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides grants to state and local governments. CDBG supports activities including housing rehabilitation, youth and senior services, small business assistance, and park renovations, among other activities. Activities funded by CDBG serve primarily low-to moderate-income individuals and households, in addition to seniors and persons with disabilities. As an entitlement community, Arlington has received CDBG funds for 46 years and is in the process of planning for its 47th year as a recipient community.

The DPCD invites all to join its Community Development Week panel, taking place on Thursday, April 8th at 5:00 p.m. The panel will focus on food security, equity, and the value of grants in leveraging funding to create community impact.  It will feature Andi Doane, Executive Director at Arlington EATS, Elise Springuel, Director of Operations and Community Partnerships at Food Link, and Jenny Raitt, Director of the Arlington Department of Planning and Community Development. Learn more and register for the panel: https://www.arlingtonma.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/26927/18.

The CDBG Program was created in 1974 as part of Title I of the HCD ACT of 1974, as amended, and is run by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. CDBG provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons. According to the National Community Development Association, every $1.00 of CDBG leverages another $4.09 in other funding; bringing additional resources to communities that support jobs, businesses and, most importantly, the people who live there.

All questions regarding the CDBG program may be directed to Mallory Sullivan, Community Development Block Grant Administrator, at 781-316-3094 or mjsullivan@town.arlington.ma.us. More information can be found at arlingtonma.gov/cdbg.

This press release was produced by Town of Arlington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.