New London and Norwich will receive about $500,000 each in federal funds to assist them in their fight against the coronavirus.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, on Thursday announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded two federal grants totaling more than $1 million to the cities of New London and Norwich to aid in the COVID-19 pandemic response. 

New London will receive $514,725 and Norwich $506,569, flexible funding aimed at supporting infectious disease response in low-income and vulnerable communities. Examples of eligible activities include everything from construction of testing and rehabilitation facilities to providing grants or loans to businesses.

The new federal funding comes less than a week after the House of Representatives voted to pass the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act, which authorized $5 billion for HUD’s Community Development Block Grant program. Both grant awards were dispersed through HUD’s CDBG program.

“This federal funding was authorized as part of the bipartisan CARES Act six days ago, it’s incredibly flexible, and it can be put towards a wide range of uses to support some of the people and families who have been hit hardest here in eastern Connecticut,” Courtney said in a statement.

 “Right now, our communities need high-velocity funding and financial support — for testing, to support workers, families, and small businesses, and to get resources to our health care professionals. This six-day turnaround is a good first step, and now that this federal funding has made its way here quickly it can be put towards a broad range of projects and needs. We need to keep working together in Congress to provide our communities and our health care professionals with the tools they need to win the battle against this pandemic,” Courtney said.

New London Mayor Michael Passero said he expects some of the money will help programs alreday designed by the city to assist the small businesses suffering right now.

“I have an incredible staff who are working really hard to make sure that working people, families, and small businesses in New London have the resources they need right now,” New London Mayor Michael Passero said in a statement. “No one has offered any resources to this point, so it’s a great morale boost to have these dollars coming to support our work and our community. We’re indebted to Congressman Courtney for his efforts to get this first round of resources to us.”

"We're certainly grateful for the additional support," Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom said.

Nystrom said the city is incurring additional expenses in response to the COVID-19 emergency, and as conditions change daily, it's difficult to plan a response. Nystrom said the city would consult with the Uncas Health District and local health care providers, as well as the city's community development office for recommendations on how to use the additional block grant money.

There is $11.9 million in federal grant money additionally earmarked for aid to Connecticut’s homeless population. The money is to be used to operate and build more emergency shelters, provide motel vouchers and help pay for child care, education services, outreach, employment assistance and outpatient health services, among other things.

New London is slated to receive $874,972 in federal funds and Norwich $861,120, a statement from HUD shows.

New London recently worked with the New London Homeless Hospitality Center to open a vacant former nursing home on Viets Street to accommodate homeless people with symptoms of COVID-19, an effort to mitigate the spread of the disease.

g.smith@theday.com