Community Development Block Grants Awarded To Dutchess Municipalities

BEACON, NY — Grants totaling $985,000 will be awarded through Dutchess County’s 2017 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program to fund an array of local projects throughout Dutchess County, focusing on accessibility solutions for communities. Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro was joined by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-Cold Spring, and several local elected officials, including Beacon Mayor Randy Casale, to highlight the importance of the CDBG funding.

Molinaro said the CDBG awards have made positive impacts on communities throughout Dutchess County, making critical infrastructure improvements and handicapped accessibility projects possible.

“These projects enhance quality of life by making our communities more inclusive and accessible for some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” he said. “This year’s funding process was unusually stressful due to proposed mid-year funding cuts, but we were able to work with our federal legislators to preserve these vital funds for our community.”

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Funding for the CDBG Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to address locally identified community development needs benefitting low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, populations and communities.

CDBG funding is slated for elimination in the fiscal year 2018 federal budget proposed by President Donald Trump. Maloney joined Molinaro to stress the need for continued CDBG funding for the future.

“Investing in projects like the Main Street revitalization here in Beacon are just good sense, and it’s exactly the kind of thing that the federal government should be partnering on with the city and the county,” Maloney said. “But, unfortunately some folks in Washington want to cut the legs out from under this program — that’s just wrong. I’m all for getting our debt under control, but that’s not the way to do it.”

Dutchess County’s 2017 CDBG funding project awards include:

City of Beacon – Main Street Sidewalks - $160,000

Removal and installation of new concrete sidewalks, granite curbs, and ornamental lighting along the lower section of Main Street from South Street to Herbert Street on the west side of Main Street, and from the clock to East Main Street on the east side of Main Street.

Town of Amenia – Amenia Town Hall Handicapped Accessibility Initiative - $93,500

Handicapped access improvement to the town hall, including installation of a new ADA compliant ramp to the gymnasium and ADA improvements to the bathrooms.

Town of Beekman – New Senior Recreation Building- $100,000

Construction of a senior recreation building facility on the grounds of the existing Recreation Center property.

Town of East Fishkill – Handicapped Accessible Playground Expansion- $100,000

Phase Two of Julie’s Jungle, a 7,000-square-foot foot addition of handicapped accessible playground equipment and a sensory garden.

Town of Hyde Park – Pinewoods Road Pedestrian Improvement Project- $150,000

Creation of 400 feet of concrete sidewalk along Pinewoods Road connecting a major residential area with the traditional commercial center and Pinewoods Park.

Town and Village of Red Hook – Construction of Challenger Field- $200,000

Construction of a Challenger Baseball Field, an adaptive baseball field with synthetic infields, and accessible dugouts for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges.

Town of UnionVale – Tymor Park Handicapped Access - $82,412

Construction of new handicapped accessible parking spaces, walkway, crosswalk and drop-off zone adjacent to the existing Senior Citizen Center.

Village of Rhinebeck – Legion Park Handicapped Access Improvements- $100,000

Installation of a paved parking area for handicapped parking adjacent to the lake, reclamation of lawn areas, installation of a handicapped accessible path along the shoreline with a fence along the lake edge, and installation of a handicapped accessible fishing dock.

Photo caption: From left, Dutchess County Legislator Jerry Landisi, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, Beacan Councilman George Mansfield, Beacon Mayor Randy Casale, Red Hook Supervisor Robert McKeon, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, Beacon Councilman Ali T. Muhammad and Beacon Councilman Omar Harper. Photo credit: Submitted.