Norwich receives $2.9 million lead paint abatement grant
Norwich — The city has received a new $2.9 million federal grant to continue its efforts to remove lead paint hazards for low-income housing, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney announced Wednesday.
The grant is expected to cover lead paint abatement in 110 housing units and comes as the city is expected to finish spending a $2.4 million 2016 grant that abated 90 units of housing, city Community Development program supervisor Kathryn Crees said Wednesday.
“This is great news,” Crees said.
The grants are competitive and generally last for three or four years, she said. Lead abatement averages about $12,000 per housing unit, she said, but can cost as much as $20,000 for some properties. Owners approved for the funding receive it as a loan forgivable over time unless the property is sold.
“Congratulations to Mayor Peter Nystrom and City of Norwich for identifying this federal funding opportunity and putting together a successful grant application,” Courtney said in a news release announcing the grant. “Helping to bring federal resources back to eastern Connecticut is one of the most important parts of my work in Congress. I was glad to help support Norwich’s request for this funding, and it’s great to see such a substantial award come home to our region to support safe and healthy housing for our residents.”
The city will receive $2,955,058 total through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Of that, $2,655,058 was awarded through HUD’s Lead Based Paint Hazard Control program. The remaining $300,000 is awarded through HUD’s Healthy Homes Initiative program. Crees said the 2016 grant also came from both HUD programs.
Lead Hazard Control funding assists states, counties, and other units of local government to identify and eliminate lead-based paint hazards in low- and very low-income private housing where children under 6 years of age reside or are likely to reside, Courtney’s release stated.
Norwich property owners seeking information on applications for the lead paint abatement funding may contact Crees at (860) 823-3770.
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.
