HUD AWARDS FUNDING TO MAINE NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE TO PROTECT WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT FROM RISING SEA LEVELS, STORM SURGES

BOSTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) New England Acting Regional Administrator Kristine Foye today announced a $410,710 grant to the Pleasant Point Reservation Housing Authority to protect the waste water treatment plant at the Passamaquoddy Tribe Pleasant Point Reservation from the impacts of recent storm surges, rising sea level and high winds on the unprotected section of Passamaquoddy Bay. The Tribe's only waste water treatment plant serves the complete extent of the Pleasant Point Reservation.

HUD's Indian Community Development Block Grant Imminent Threat grants are intended to alleviate or remove threats to health or safety that require an immediate solution. These grants fund projects that: (1) can be completed within 12 months of grant award and (2) provide a solution to problems of an urgent nature that were not evident at the time of the ICDBG Single Purpose funding grant cycle or require immediate action. More than $3.9 million is being made available through the program this year.

"This funding will help our Passamaquoddy Tribal partners to ensure the health and safety of their residents and the environment by protecting their wastewater treatment plant from the impacts of rising sea levels and storm surges," said Kristine Foye, HUD New England Acting Regional Administrator.

Provided through HUD's Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Program, these funds support a wide variety of community development and affordable housing activities.

The purpose of the ICDBG program is the development of viable Indian and Alaska Native communities, including the creation of decent housing, suitable living environments, and economic opportunities primarily for persons with low- and moderate- incomes as defined in 24 CFR 1003.4. The Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) in HUD's Office of Public and Indian Housing administers the program.

Recipients can use the funding to support rehabbing or building new housing or to buy land for housing; for infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer facilities; and to spur economic development including job creation.

The ICDBG program was established in 1977 to help Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages to meet their community development needs.  Federally recognized Indian tribes, bands, groups or nations (including Alaska Indian, Aleuts and Eskimos,) Alaska Native villages and eligible tribal organizations compete for this funding.

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