Funding will support housing rehabilitation, water and sewer improvements, and community service facility enhancements
Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced more than $18 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for 16 projects across the Commonwealth. The funding will support projects that rehabilitate housing, revitalize downtown districts, improve water and sewer infrastructure and provide dental facilities for needed services, benefiting more than 2,800 low- and moderate-income Virginians.
“In my Make Virginia Home Plan, addressing the escalating cost of living takes center stage,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “These initiatives aim to forge affordable housing and essential infrastructure, improving the well-being of our communities in need. Our goal is to elevate the quality of life, maintaining Virginia as the premier state to live, work and raise a family.”
The federally funded CDBG program has been administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development since 1982 and annually receives approximately $19 million to distribute to small cities, counties and towns. With these funds, localities can provide new or improved water and sewer systems in rural areas, rehabilitate housing in declining neighborhoods, revitalize commercial districts and provide facilities for a variety of needed services, such as health care clinics in underserved areas.
“The foundation of every community includes homes and a robust infrastructure that works for everyone,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “The importance of the CDBG program cannot be overstated in meeting the most pressing needs of communities, enhancing the well-being of Virginians and fostering positive transformations in economic landscapes.”
“Community Development Block Grants allow us to offer targeted support to community-identified needs, from housing rehabilitation to water and sewer improvements,” said Director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Bryan Horn. “By investing in our communities, we are supporting them in the unique ways that they need, with solutions that include their unique voices, all while protecting vulnerable populations and building stronger local economies.”
The funded projects will leverage over $7 million in additional federal, state, local and private funding resources.
A full list of the 2023 CDBG awarded projects can be found here