CUOMO ANNOUNCES $2 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR COMMUNITIES
IN NEVADA UNDER NEW HUD DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM

The grants will help the communities recover from severe rainstorms followed by flooding in January that damaged many businesses in the state. The grants were authorized under disaster relief legislation signed into law by President Clinton in June.

"No amount of money can erase the terrible devastation caused by heavy rains and flooding in Nevada, but this assistance can help speed recovery efforts to create stronger and better communities," Cuomo said. "The Clinton Administration and all Americans stand with the people of Nevada in our determination to rebuild from the damage caused by this disaster as completely and quickly as humanly possible."

Cuomo made the grant announcement from Washington with Senators Harry Reid and Richard Bryan in a conference call to with Mayors Bruce H. Breslow of Sparks and Jeff Griffin of Reno in Nevada.

Funds under the new HUD Disaster Recovery Program can be used for long-term recovery efforts, property buyouts, relocations and efforts to prevent future flood damage. The program will give communities great flexibility in meeting local needs quickly.

Communities can use funds for: rehabilitation of residential and commercial buildings; acquisition, construction or reconstruction of public facilities and improvements, including streets, neighborhood centers, and water and sewer facilities; homeownership assistance, including downpayment assistance and interest rate subsides; building new replacement housing; code enforcement; and assistance to businesses for carrying out economic development activities for job creation and retention.

The HUD assistance will supplement aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal agencies.

Sen. Reid said: "All Nevadans welcome this badly needed assistance to help our state recover from the winter storms and floods. The assistance we're receiving from HUD's new Disaster Recovery Program will speed and strengthen repair and rebuilding efforts."