Carcieri to Unveil Grants for West Bay and South County on Thursday In Total, Governor Will Announce $5 Million in Grants This Week

Governor Donald L. Carcieri today announced that the State of Rhode Island is awarding a total of $5.053 million in grants to 33 Rhode Island communities through the 2006 Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The awards were determined by the Governor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, which is overseen by Noreen Shawcross.

At ceremonies today in Central Falls and Newport, the Governor unveiled $3.1 million in specific grants for 20 individual Blackstone Valley and East Bay cities and towns. The Governor will announce specific grant amounts for West Bay and South County communities at ceremonies in West Warwick and Westerly on Thursday.

This morning, Governor Carcieri visited Central Falls City Hall to announce $1.7 million specific grant amounts for eleven Blackstone Valley communities, including: Burrillville ($72,400), Central Falls ($448,000), Cumberland ($177,800), Foster ($106,700), Glocester ($211,100), Johnston ($140,500), Lincoln ($97,200), North Providence ($78,700), North Smithfield ($220,000), Scituate ($64,775), and Smithfield ($83,700).

Later in the day, Governor Carcieri announced $1.4 million in specific grants for nine East Bay communities at a ceremony in Newport City Hall. East Bay communities receiving CDBG grants include: Barrington ($34,500), Bristol ($181,050), Jamestown ($53,150), Little Compton ($33,975), Middletown ($131,501), Newport ($415,375), Portsmouth ($113,200), Tiverton ($151,900), and Warren ($273,500).

“These community development grants target many of my core priorities: providing more affordable housing for economically disadvantaged residents, spurring the growth of our economy, creating jobs and revitalizing our neighborhoods.” Governor Carcieri said. “These grants will help build on the progress that we’ve made over the last three years.”

Among Blackstone Valley communities, Central Falls received one of the largest grants. Central Falls will use $448,000 in CDBG funds for human services, fire safety code upgrades in multi-family homes, a senior meal site and to support services for seniors and youth at the Holden Community Center. Central Falls will also use CDBG funds to create five units of low income housing and to purchase a vehicle to provide transportation for individuals with disabilities.

The City of Newport will use a total of $415,375 in CDBG funds to support the East Bay Community Action health center and dental offices and to provide renovations to the Weaver building where health care services were provided to more than 19,000 people last year.

The primary objective of the CDBG program is to develop viable communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and by expanding economic opportunities. Each state must ensure that at least 70 percent of its CDBG grant funds are used for activities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons.

This is the second year that the Governor’s Office of Housing and Community Development has administered the program, soliciting grant applications from the 33 Rhode Island cities and towns that do not receive community development grants directly from the federal government. Larger communities – including Providence, Cranston, Warwick, East Providence, Pawtucket and Woonsocket -- each receive direct funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Governor’s Office of Housing and Community Development worked with a six member steering committee to review all the grant applications for this year’s funds. No member of the steering committee hails from a community eligible for these small cities grants.

Related links

• Community Development Block Grant East Bay
• Community Development Block Grant Northern Rhode Island