Deborah VanAmerongen, commissioner of the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), today announced the availability of $500,000 in NYS Community Development Block Grant (NYS CDBG) funding to help municipalities with community planning.

Eligible non-entitlement cities, towns, villages, and counties in New York State can receive up to $25,000 to identify community development challenges and needs and establish a strategy to address them.

Funding is available through NYS CDBG Community Planning Program and is administered through DHCR's Office of Community Renewal (OCR). The application kit is available on the OCR website, www.nysocr.org or at the Office of Community Renewal, Hampton Plaza, 38-40 State Street, 9^th Floor, Albany, NY 12207. For questions regarding the Community Planning Program, please contact 518-474-2057.

Commissioner VanAmerongen said, "These grants can help municipalities take the all-important first step in prioritizing and addressing the most pressing needs in their communities."

Applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered no later than November 21, 2008. If hand-delivered, applications must be received by OCR no later than 4:00 p.m.

• View additional information in our Funding section.

DHCR Holding Application Workshops

Additionally DHCR is conducting 2009 Grant Application & Program Administration workshops across the state, which are designed to help municipalities interested in applying for NYS CDBG and NY Main Street grants.

To date, workshops have been held in Lake Placid, Tarrytown and Syracuse with great success. A workshop in Buffalo is being held today, October 15, and upcoming workshops are scheduled for October 17^th at the Hilton Garden Inn, Elmira and October 23^rd at Hilton Garden Inn, Albany University Heights, Albany. Please contact DHCR's Office of Community Renewal to RSVP at 518-474-2057.

DHCR administers the New York State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for the State of New York through its Office of Community Renewal. The NYS CDBG is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance to eligible cities, towns, and villages with populations under 50,000 and counties with an area population of less than 200,000, in order to develop viable communities by providing decent, affordable housing, and suitable living environments, as well as expanding economic opportunities, principally for low and moderate income New Yorkers.

DHCR also administers the New York Main Street Program (NYMS) through its Office of Community Renewal. NYMS provides funds to stimulate reinvestment in properties located within mixed-use commercial districts located in urban, small town, and rural areas of New York State. Since its inception in 2004, NYMS has awarded over $42 million dollars in more than 150 communities across the State.

Last Updated: 10/16/08

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