Hurricane Florence changed its plans to come to Salem this week, but Gov. Ralph Northam made the announcement anyway.
Salem will be getting $535,000 to continue its plans to renovate downtown Salem.
The governor’s office released the information Tuesday afternoon, as part of the announcement of $10.9 million in Community Development Block Grants that are going to 14 towns, cities and counties in Virginia. Salem is the only city to receive a grant. Salem City Councilmembers learned Monday night that the governor had planned a trip to Salem to make the announcement on Friday of this week, but cancelled the journey because of potential emergency conditions throughout the Commonwealth from the pending hurricane heading up the East Coast.
Apparently he had a good experience the last time,” Salem City Manager Kevin Boggess said, referring to when Northam and other officials visited Salem in April and they were treated to a visit and tasting at Olde Salem Brewing Company. Other localities are getting Community Development Block Grant money for housing rehabilitation, water and sewer projects and downtown rehabilitation. They are grants to the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Halifax, Lee, Northumberland, and Washington, and the towns of Blackstone, Chase City, Lebanon, Luray, Marion, Pocahontas, and Smithfield.
“Community Development Block Grants are a key resource to help communities fund economic and community development projects that address their local needs and help build the Virginia economy,” said Governor Northam. “With these grants, we can assist localities to make improvements to create vibrant spaces for all Virginia citizens to live and do business.” Since 1982, the federally-funded CDBG program has been administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and Virginia receives approximately $18.5 million annually for this grant program. CDBG grants are awarded through a competitive process.
During this year’s competitive cycle for CDBG funding, 21 proposals were submitted, and 12 projects received the initial funding. Most projects benefit low- and moderate-income persons, and many projects are targeted for the prevention or elimination of slums and blighting conditions. Three projects will be funded through the CDBG ConstructionReady Water and Sewer Fund, which provides assistance to projects providing public water or sewer service to communities made up of at least 60 percent low- to moderate-income households. Funds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis from January 1 through the end of September.
