CUOMO ANNOUNCES $377,240 IN GRANTS FOR COMMUNITIES IN IDAHO UNDER HUD DISASTER RECOVERY INITIATIVE

WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo today announced $377,240 in grants to communities in Idaho under HUD's Disaster Recovery Initiative to help them recover from damages caused by severe storms, snow melt, flooding, land slides and mud slides that damaged many northern Idaho roads, water treatment facilities and other public facilities last spring.

The grants were authorized under disaster relief legislation signed into law by President Clinton in June. The funds are in addition to more than $2.8 million in HUD Disaster Recovery funds awarded last year in response to a previous disaster. Idaho plans to use the new HUD funding to perform channel restoration. The HUD assistance will supplement aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal agencies.

President Clinton declared the following Idaho counties disaster areas on June 13: Benewah, Bingham, Bonner, Bonneville, Boundary, Butte, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Kootenai, Madison and Shoshone.

"No amount of money can erase the devastation caused by the severe storms that hit Idaho, 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 Idaho in our determination to rebuild from the damage caused by this disaster."

Funds under the HUD Disaster Recovery Initiative 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 HUD 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.