Norwich— Alicia Hansen grew up in the historic Taftville duplex she now owns and vividly recalls how her mother would clean surfaces and children's hands to make sure they weren't over-exposed to lead paint prevalent in the building.

Hansen did the same for her two children, now ages 8 and 9.

But in March, the second apartment in the duplex at 53-55 South A St. in the historic mill village essentially was condemned by the Uncas Health District after a young child whose family was renting the apartment tested positive for a blood-lead level of 57 micrograms per deciliter — more than 10 times the level that triggers monitoring by the health district.

Hansen stood beside U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, on Thursday expressing her hope that no one who ever lives in the 1875 home in the future will have to worry about lead paint poisoning.

The congressional delegation, along with Norwich Mayor Deberey Hinchey and city administrators announced the receipt of a $2.1 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development lead abatement grant Thursday.

The city also will receive another $300,000 in education funds to teach families in the city's aging housing stock how to reduce lead paint exposure.

The grant funding is expected to remove lead paint from about 100 housing units citywide.

Because of the recent elevated lead level at the apartment at 55 South A St., Hansen's house likely will be one of the first in the city to qualify for lead abatement funding in the new grant, said Gary Evans, director of the community development office that oversees the lead abatement program.

Evans estimated grant funds should become available in September, after contracts are signed with HUD officials and local contractors are hired for abatement plans.

The average cost of lead abatement is about $12,000 to $13,000 per unit, said Wayne Sharkey, rehabilitation specialist in the community development office.

But homes often need more work than just lead abatement.

Evans said the office can use portions of the Community Development Block Grant money reserved for property rehabilitation and another $300,000 “Healthy Homes” grant to address safety issues unrelated to lead, such as lighting, trip hazards and insulation.

Courtney credited the quality of the city's grant application, combined with the high need for lead abatement in the old mill city, for the success in obtaining the grant.

City officials estimate 80 percent of the city's 18,500 housing units were built before 1978, when lead paint was banned.

In recent grant rounds, Norwich received four three-year grants in succession before experiencing a gap in funding.

Prior to the new award, the city's last $2.1 million lead grant ran out of money in February — a month before the Taftville elevated lead emergency and a second elevated lead level in a child elsewhere in the city.

Evans said Uncas Health District will assist in determining top priorities for lead grant funding by testing young children under age 6 in the Norwich public school system.

Evans said other city departments also will assist, including the building department, fire marshals and Adult Education program, which helps the lead program educate families in the English language learners program.

Blumenthal called lead poisoning “a pernicious, insidious, invisible disease” that causes brain damage that could last a lifetime.

He said the federal lead abatement program is an “investment” in children's health rather than a grant program.

c.bessette@theday.com