Bonacic: $1.2 Million For Housing And Community Development In Ulster And Sullivan Counties

State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/I/C - Mt. Hope), announced today that $1.2 million in funding will be awarded in Ulster and Sullivan Counties through the Governor's Office of Small Cities. Funding recipients include the County of Ulster ($600,000); the Village of Liberty ($200,000); and the Town of Wawarsing ($400,000).

Senator Bonacic is one of three members of Governor Pataki’s Small Cities Advisory Committee. That Committee helps set funding priorities for the Small Cities Program. "It is important for the State to partner with localities and to invest in projects that provide better housing, create jobs, and improve public services," stated Senator Bonacic.

The Village of Liberty will use the funding to create the Liberty Business Development Program. That program is a micro enterprise fund designed to support the expansion and start-up of businesses from the Mill Street Gateway through the Historic Downtown District.

"We are working hard in Village to help revitalize downtown. This funding will help keep existing businesses here and growing. Senator Bonacic has come through for us on this grant and we look forward to continuing to partner with him," said Village of Liberty Mayor William "Rube" Smith.

Heinrich Strauch, Executive Director of the Liberty Community Development Corporation said, "The timing could not be better. As we are coming out of a construction process with the Department of Transportation, we essentially have a brand new Main Street. This funding will help our businesses and help revitalize our downtown."

The Town of Wawarsing will use the $400,000 it will receive to re-establish a housing rehabilitation program. The funding will be used to provide assistance to rehabilitate 20 low and moderate income households in the Town.

The County of Ulster will use the $600,000 it was awarded to rehabilitate 25 owner occupied substandard housing units located throughout the County. The average projected cost of rehabilitation per unit is $20,840, including the cost of addressing lead based paint compliance.

Towns, villages and cities can receive a maximum of $400,000 and counties and joint applications can receive $600,000 for Housing and Public Facilities grants. All applicants can receive a maximum of $400,000 for MicroEnterprise grants and $650,000 for Comprehensive grants. For Economic Development grants, the maximum award is $750,000 with a minimum request amount of $100,000. Strategic Planning Technical Assistance grants are a maximum of $25,000.