Town Awarded $825,000 In CDBG Funds

Source: amherstma.gov

A range of local social services and community projects will be supported by an $825,000 state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award. Projects include a new multi-use path on Mill Lane to help the Pomeroy Village Center/East Hadley Road neighborhood access Groff Park, modernization of Watson Farms in collaboration with the Amherst Housing Authority, technical assistance for up to 25 micro-enterprise businesses provided by Valley CDC, and support for five local social services.  

The award will support social service programs such as the Food Pantry at the Amherst Survival Center, youth mentoring by Big Brothers Big Sisters, housing services for those experiencing homelessness by Amherst Community Connections, family stabilization support offered by Family Outreach of Amherst, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and career preparation assistance for immigrants provided by the Center for New Americans.  

The Town anticipates that these activities will begin in the spring and summer of 2021 with a 12–18 month timeline for completion.  

The CDBG Program was authorized by Congress in 1974 and helps small cities and towns meet a broad range of community development needs. Assistance is provided to qualifying cities and towns for projects that help low and moderate-income residents, or revitalize blighted areas.  
CDBG funds are allocated annually to the state and are administered by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development. Since 2015, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded nearly $180 million in CDBG grants to projects in more than 180 communities.