City of Poughkeepsie eyes community improvement with $800,000 funding

The City of Poughkeepsie plans to demolish "zombie" properties, in addition to other community improvements, with more than $800,000 in federal grants next year.

The funding is coming through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grants, Emergency Solutions Grant Program and the HOME program. It will be split between administrative and programming costs for the benefit of eligible organizations said Marc Nelson, city administrator. 

"We often use some of this funding for sidewalk repair and critical infrastructure projects in the city," Nelson said. "We also plan to use some of this funding to support (Mayor Rob Rolison's) "Anti-Blight" initiative, including costs associated with demolitions of fire-damaged vacant and abandoned structures, for example."

However, the funding hasn't been officially mapped out and will not be available until January, Nelson said. 

The $800,000 is part of a total $5.3 million in funding that will be split within six investments between the City of Poughkeepsie, the City of Newburgh and Orange County.

Each HUD initiative is aimed at providing funding toward housing assistance and local projects that benefit the economy. The funding was announced by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney's office.

"We are obviously extremely grateful to the congressman for his support of the City of Poughkeepsie," Nelson said. "This award is going to have a meaningful impact in our community. The funding gives us the flexibility to pick the most important things that need to be done."

Maloney's office said in a news release that the investments are critical to Orange and Dutchess counties. Maloney said Poughkeepsie is a model for how community development funds are meant to be use. 

"You look at the revitalization on Main Street, new low-income housing options and the renovation of parks and infrastructure — a lot of these projects are tied directly to HUD funding," Maloney said in a statement. "And they’ve proven to be effective at boosting the quality of life and generating economic activity. I always fight to protect that funding down in Washington because I’ve seen its impact at home in the Hudson Valley, especially in Poughkeepsie."

Torrance Harvey, mayor of Newburgh, said the city is excited about the funding as it will play a role in boosting the economic vitality. 

"This award will continue to move us forward and we are so grateful to the congressman for believing in us and helping us reinvest in Newburgh," Harvey said in a statement.

Ryan Santistevan: rsantistev@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4809; Twitter: @SantistevanRyan

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