Press Room >> 2010 Press Releases
For Immediate Release:
January 14, 2010
OHIO RECEIVES MORE THAN $25 MILLION IN AMERICAN RECOVERY
AND REINVESTMENT ACT FUNDING FROM U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Columbus –U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced that the State of Ohio will receive $25.4 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2. Ohio is the only state in the nation receiving direct funding. The state applied for assistance to help the areas of greatest need that did not apply directly to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for funding.
Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, and City of Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman joined Secretary Donovan for the announcement this morning at Columbus’ Dodge Recreation Center. The funds, which will be administered by the Ohio Department of Development’s Office of Housing and Community Partnerships, will be used to establish financing mechanisms to redevelop foreclosed properties, demolish blighted structures, and purchase and rehabilitate homes and abandoned residential properties.
“This funding will undoubtedly benefit many Ohioans and continue to advance parts of this state – and country – in a new direction as we aim to protect our communities from the serious economic risks associated with foreclosures, abandonment, and the destabilizing affects of a volatile housing market,” said Lt. Governor Fisher. “However, while we appreciate the assistance to several Ohio regions, we are extremely disappointed that communities still reeling from the economic recession received no funding, including Youngstown, Canton, and Akron. We commit to standing with our regional representatives and congressional delegation and are ready to work with them to advocate for the federal assistance they need.”
“These funds are about helping Main Street recover from the economic crisis,” Senator Brown said. “By rebuilding neighborhoods devastated by the economic crisis, we will improve surrounding property values, create new jobs, and foster long-term economic growth. By putting vacant properties and lots to good use and targeting funds to the hardest-hit communities, we can rebuild our downtowns and strengthen our communities.”
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Congress allocated $2 billion to the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2. The funds were awarded competitively to eligible local governments, states, and nonprofit organizations. Ohio entities that received direct allocations from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development include the City of Columbus, City of Dayton, City of Springfield, City of Toledo, Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corp., Hamilton County, and The Community Builders, Inc. Including the State of Ohio direct allocation, Ohio received a total of $175.2 million.
“The housing crisis has outpaced our ability to fully address it at the city level, which is why it is so important that we receive this federal aid to deal with this problem,” said Mayor Coleman. “My heartfelt thanks go to Secretary Donovan and President Barack Obama for this much needed assistance to our community.”
The Ohio Department of Development will allocate its Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 funding to the following seven nonprofit organizations: Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area, Community Action Commission of Fayette County, Gallia Meigs Community Action Agency, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, Neighborhood Development Services, Inc., Ohio Regional Development Corporation, and WSOS (Wood, Sandusky, Ottawa, and Seneca) Community Action Commission. In addition, the Department will work with the Ohio Housing Finance Agency to ensure leveraging opportunities in Ohio’s communities are maximized.
For more information about the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 or the award selections, please visit www.hud.gov.
Working with our partners across business, state and local governments, academia, and the nonprofit sector, the Ohio Department of Development works to attract, create, grow, and retain businesses through competitive incentives and targeted investments. Engaged every day in marketing, innovating, investing, and collaborating, the Ohio Department of Development works at the speed of business to accelerate and support the teamwork that is absolutely necessary for success by providing financial, informational, and technical assistance to those making an investment in Ohio’s future.
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Media contacts: Eileen Turner at (614) 728-6674
or the Communications and Marketing Office at (614) 466-2609