ST. LOUIS, MO - In a speech highlighting President Clinton's State of the Union Address, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo today announced $47 million in HUD grants for housing and community development programs in St. Louis, St. Louis County, and East St. Louis.

"We are making an investment in a better future for St. Louis, St. Louis County and East St. Louis," Cuomo said, during a tour of St. Louis' newly designated Empowerment Zone. "Our grants will fund locally developed initiatives that will create jobs and affordable housing to benefit the people of these communities."

"President Clinton's proposals outlined in the State of the Union Address will build on what we have achieved in this area in the past, and bring greater prosperity to people and communities in the future," Cuomo said. "As all Americans heard Tuesday night, the state of our union has never been stronger. Homeownership is at an all-time high, unemployment is at an historic low, younger Americans will have unprecedented educational opportunities, older Americans will have our continued care. But if President Clinton made one thing clear, it is this: our work is not done."

Cuomo was meeting with local officials including: St. Louis Mayor Clarence Harmon; St. Louis County Executive Buzz Westfall; East St. Louis, IL Mayor Gordon Bush; and Wellston, MO Mayor Lawrence Brady.

Cuomo said HUD has approved Consolidated Plans for HUD assistance that will bring the City of St. Louis $34.6 million, St. Louis County $9.2 million, and East St. Louis $3.1 million this year. Here is a breakdown of the assistance:

CITY OF ST. LOUIS: $27.7 million in Community Development Block Grant funds; $5 million under the HOME Investment Partnership program; $982,000 in Emergency Shelter Grant funds for programs for homeless people; and $944,000 in funding under the Housing Opportunity for Persons with AIDS program.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY: $2.5 million under the Home Investment Partnership program; $230,000 in Emergency Shelter grants; and $6.5 million in Community Development Block Grant funds.

EAST ST. LOUIS: $639,000 under the Home Investment Partnership program; $85,000 in Emergency Shelter Grants; and $2.4 million in Community Development Block grants.

The Consolidated Planning process, developed by Cuomo when he served as HUD Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, ensures that local residents have strong input into the creation of comprehensive, community-based housing and economic development plans. The streamlined process gives communities maximum local flexibility, while reducing burdensome regulatory requirements.

Cuomo participated in a walking tour of part of the St. Louis-East St. Louis Empowerment Zone, which was announced last week by Vice President Gore. He also attended a community gathering with officials involved in planning for the Empowerment Zone

Parts of St. Louis and East St. Louis were jointly designated last week as one of 20 Empowerment Zones -- economically distressed communities that together are eligible to share $3.8 billion in proposed federal grants and tax-exempt bonding authority to finance sweeping revitalization and job creation programs over the next 10 years.

The St. Louis-East St. Louis Empowerment Zone will receive $3 million in federal grants this year and $130 million in tax-exempt bonding authority over the next 10 years as a result of its designation. If Congress approves President Clinton's request for full funding of the new Empowerment Zones, the St. Louis-East St. Louis Zone will receive $100 million in federal grants over 10 years.

Content Archived: January 20, 2009