In order to enable Westchester municipalities’ eligibility for federal community development funding, Westchester County Executive George Latimer announced the reestablishment of the Westchester Urban County Consortium and the county’s first grant awards. The Community Development Block Grant program allows municipalities to apply for funding for infrastructure improvements such as sewer and water treatment, sidewalk rehabilitation, playground and field upgrades, and handicap-accessible vans.
Latimer was joined by Congresswoman Nita Lowey, chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, who helped secure the CDBG funds, and municipal leaders at DeLuca Park in the Village of Elmsford. The park is set to receive $67,500 for playground improvements and is an example of how municipalities can benefit from the CBBG Program.
The new consortium is comprised of 25 towns and villages in the county, with a combined population of more than 347,000 residents.
To reestablish the consortium, Latimer convened a meeting in March 2018 of the eligible municipalities, along with regional Housing and Urban Development representatives. The county then worked directly with each eligible municipality to educate them on the benefits, responsibilities and application process for the program. Westchester County is now eligible to apply for CDBG, which provides funds to local municipalities and nonprofits for physical facilities and public services, and the HOME Program, which provides funds to developers of affordable housing.
Once the consortium was reestablished, the county submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on May 1, 2019. The county was awarded more than $3.5 million in CDBG funding, and $880,000 in HOME funding for the 2019 fiscal year.
“Westchester County stands to get millions in funding from these programs,” said Latimer. “I am pleased to have jump-started the process for municipalities and nonprofits to receive much-needed federal funding for important local projects such as infrastructure improvements and community development. This is another example of how working cooperatively at all levels of government, we can provide real benefits to residents and save money for local taxpayers.”
Lowey added: “Reestablishing the Westchester County Urban Consortium is an important step forward in securing the necessary federal resources to meet the community development, housing and infrastructure needs of our communities. I was proud to have brokered an agreement with New York State in 2015 that made $5 million in HUD funding available to local governments and nonprofits.”
The Westchester County Planning Department will administer the consortium funds, and help local towns and villages apply. The 2019 grants are the first the county has received since 2010.
Following is the list of local municipalities with approved agreements for fiscal year 2019:
Westchester Urban County Consortium: Ardsley, Bedford, Buchanan, Cortlandt, Croton, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Greenburgh, Hastings, Irvington, Lewisboro, Mamaroneck Town and Village, Mount Kisco, Ossining Town and Village, Pelham Village, Pleasantville, Port Chester, Rye Brook, Rye Town, Scarsdale, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown Village and Yorktown
Municipalities directly eligible for CDBG: Cities of Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, White Plains and Yonkers.
