CUOMO ANNOUNCES $64.6 MILLION FOR VIRGINIA AND NINE COMMUNITIES

WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo today announced $64.6 million in HUD assistance for housing and community development programs for the State of Virginia and nine communities.

Cuomo announced aid to:

• Alexandria .................... $1.8 million.
• Arlington County ............$3.3 million.
• Charlottesville..................$1.4 million.
• Chesterfield County........ $1.8 million.
• Fairfax County................ $8.1 million.
• Lynchburg....................... $1.3 million.
• Petersburg……………... .....$738,000.
• Prince William County...... $2.2 million.
• Richmond…...…………..... $8.3 million.
• Virginia………................... $35.8 million

"These funds will go toward community-based solutions to the housing and economic development challenges faced by the state and these Virginia communities," Cuomo said. "We are funding a comprehensive strategy to create jobs and affordable housing, help homeless Americans become self-sufficient, and increase homeownership."

Here is a summary of HUD funding for the state and each of the communities:

ALEXANDRIA - $1.2 million in Community Development Block Grant funds and $558,000 under the HOME Investment Partnership program.

ARLINGTON COUNTY - $2.3 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, $915,000 under the HOME Investment Partnership Program, and $91,000 in Emergency Shelter Grants for homeless assistance programs. Funds will be used to expand the supply of affordable housing, provide rent assistance, address special housing needs and ensure equal opportunity in housing.

CHARLOTTESVILLE - $677,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds and $696,000 under the HOME Investment partnership program.

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY - $1.4 million in Community Development Block Grant funds and $374,000 under the HOME Investment Partnership program.

FAIRFAX COUNTY - $6 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, $1.7 million under the HOME Investment Partnership program, and $239,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant funds for homeless assistance. Funds will be used for fostering and maintaining affordable housing, evaluating and reducing lead-based paint hazards, reducing the number of households with incomes below the poverty line, and fair housing efforts.

LYNCHBURG - $945,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds and $388,000 under the HOME Investment Partnership program. Funds will be used for acquisition of real property; affordable housing/rehabilitation/demolition, neighborhood planning and technical assistance, public facilities and improvements.

PETERSBURG - $738,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds. Funds will be used for public facilities and improvements, homeless services, senior programs, housing/rehabilitation/administration, code enforcement, general administration, demolition/clearance, youth programs, infrastructure, and anti-crime programs.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY - $1.7 million in Community Development Block Grant funds and $504,000 under the HOME Investment Partnership program.

RICHMOND - $5.9 million in Community Development Block Grant funds; $1.7 under the HOME Investment Partnership program, $231,000 in Emergency Shelter Grants for homeless assistance programs, and $448,000 for Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS.

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA -- $22.9 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, $10.9 million under the HOME Investment Partnership Program, $1.5 million in Emergency Shelter Grant funds for homeless assistance programs, and $413,000 under Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program.

The community development funds are being made available to Virginia under HUD's 1998 Consolidated Plan. The Consolidated Planning process was developed by Cuomo when he served as HUD Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. The process ensures that local residents have strong input into the creation of comprehensive, community-based housing and economic development plans.

The streamlined funding process gives communities maximum local flexibility, while reducing burdensome regulatory requirements. Local HUD staff are empowered to work closely with communities to customize Consolidated Plans and to help them achieve their housing and economic development goals.