Council earmarks $670K in federal block grant money

More than a dozen community programs and facilities will benefit from Community Development Block Grant money the city gets from the federal government, though not all those that applied were funded.

The Common Council on Tuesday approved the disbursement of $670,000 in block grant funding. Of the money to be distributed by the city, $134,000 is expected to be used for administration, while $250,000 is earmarked for housing rehabilitation and emergency repair programs.

Alderwoman Nina Dawson, D-Ward 4, said it was a grueling process for the Community Development Committee to determine which programs to fund. She said there are so many good programs that apply each year that “it’s very, very hard to make decisions like this.”

Dawson, who chairs the committee, said she hoped the city will continue to receive the block grant funding next year and, if so, could reconsider funding for programs that were denied this year, such as the Legal Services of the Hudson Valley programs in Kingston City Court.

Approved to receiving funding this year were:

• The People’s Place, roof replacement, $45,000; and Bag Holiday Hunger program, $4,510.

• Kingston Department of Parks and Recreation, Everette Hodge Midtown Community Center improvements, $40,000; Rondout Neighborhood Center improvements, $30,000; and creating opportunities for youths, $30,490.

• Family of Woodstock, youth program at Everette Hodge Midtown Community Center and Rondout Neighborhood Center, $25,000.

• Kingston Boys and Girls Club, kitchen renovation, $9,185; and Teen Supreme program, $6,000.

• Center for Creative Education, after-school and summer arts and technology program, $6,500.

• Read and Write program, $9,950.

• Ulster Literacy Association, English for Parents program, $8,000.

• Kingston Library, upgrades, $16,815.

• Clinton Avenue United Methodist Church, bathroom renovation, $15,000.

• Hudson River Maritime Museum, universal access project, $10,950.

Mayor Steve Noble said he appreciated the efforts of everyone involved in the funding disbursement.

“Every year, this process becomes more and more difficult as our funds continue to decline,” Noble said in an email. “While I am disappointed that we do not have the resources to fully fund all of these worthy applicants, I am proud of the funding package that was prepared, vetted and then approved by the Common Council.

“Even with these limited funds, we are collectively going to be able to do great things,” he said.

The mayor said that includes making investments in publicly used facilities and supporting programs that focus on education, recreation and support services for the city’s most at-risk children and teens.