HUD No. 13-164 Brian Sullivan (202) 708-0685 |
For Release Tuesday November 5, 2013 |
HUD APPROVES JOPLIN, MISSOURI'S $8.6 MILLION DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today approved a $8.6 million disaster plan by the City of Joplin, Missouri (www.joplinmo.org/index.aspx?nid=731) to support its efforts to recover from a devastating tornado in May of 2011.
Earlier this year, HUD allocated nearly $113 million to Joplin through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. Joplin requested HUD to approve $8.6 million for several targeted programs and projects, primarily focused on critical infrastructure and public facilities that are ready to proceed with design and/or construction.
"This is another important step toward recovery and healing in Joplin," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "The city will now be able to implement its recovery strategies for restoring critical infrastructure."
The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, signed into law by President Obama on January 29th, included $16 billion in CDBG-Disaster Recovery funding. HUD will announce additional allocations throughout the year based upon the level of remaining needs to help other states and local communities impacted by natural disasters in 2011-2013.
HUD's CDBG-Disaster Recovery grants are intended to confront housing, business and infrastructure needs beyond those addressed by private insurance and other forms of public assistance. Using a combination of data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA), HUD identified those states and local communities requiring the greatest assistance to recover from devastating tornadoes in the Southeast and Missouri; remnants of Hurricanes Irene and Lee in the Northeast and New England; severe flooding in parts of North Dakota; and destructive wildfires in Texas.
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