From left, Vince DeJoy, city development director, Anthony Dolce, Ward 2 councilman, and Jeff Lehman, city public works director, along Van Buren Street in Jamestown where a target neighborhood infrastructure project will be happening later this summer to fix sidewalks, curbs and aprons. The $100,000 project is funded by the federal U.S. Housing and Urban Development Community Block Development Grant program. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Because of the federal U.S. Housing and Urban Development Community Block Development Grant program, a couple of city blocks will see much needed infrastructure improvements later this summer.

Vince DeJoy, city development director, said the CDBG target neighborhood infrastructure program will fund the project that will improve sidewalks, curbs and aprons along Van Buren and Price streets between Lakeview and Prendergast avenues.

Jeff Lehman, city public works director, said the $100,000 project will go out to bid later this month. He said the project should start in July and take a couple weeks per block to be completed.

“It’s a great program. We get to fix up a couple blocks. It gives real curb appeal to the homes,” Lehman said.

Anthony Dolce, Ward 2 councilman, said one of the biggest complaints council members hear from constituents is the condition of streets, curbs and sidewalks.

“Anything we can do to make improvements with CDBG money helps the neighborhood,” he said.

In 2018, the city received $1,158,549 in CDBG funding, which is funding the infrastructure improvement project. The city is slated to receive $1,165,646 in funding later this year for similar future projects. Next year, there will be $180,000 used for the neighborhood target area infrastructure improvement program, which will happen on the east side of the city.

This program provides upgrades of substandard curbing, sidewalks and streets in designated low and moderate areas of the city.

The city annually qualifies for grant funding from HUD through the CDBG program for housing and community development projects. In order to receive funding, the city is required to submit a consolidated plan that outlines community needs and how grant funds will be prioritized. Community input was gathered during public hearings earlier this year, which is done as part of the planning process. City officials will submit its action plan to HUD later this summer.

Community officials in New York state use the CDBG funding to address a wide range of needs, which enables local governments to support affordable housing initiatives and expand economic development. The CDBG program provides municipalities in New York with critical funding for transformative and unique development projects and needed funding to leverage outside investment in job creation projects. The funds continue to play a critical role in facilitating local economic development in Upstate New York and helping local governments succeed.

HUD officials have three purposes for the use of CDBG funding. First is to prevent or eliminate slums or blight; second is to benefit low-to-moderate-income residents; and third is to meet a particular urgent need for the municipality. The CDBG program stipulates that at least 70 percent of funding must be used for low-to-moderate-income benefit activities, and no more than 30 percent of funds can be used for slums and blighted areas.