New London ― The city has earmarked nearly $1 million in federal grant funding for dozens of community programs, including those ensuring residents have access to food, diapers and youth programming.

The City Council on Monday gave preliminary approval for the disbursement of $956,983 in 2024-25 Community Development Block Grant programming funding awarded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Public comment on the allocations is slated for April 1, though city officials said they do not expect the award figures to undergo significant modifications.

The new round of funding is spread out among 21 groups ― including two city departments ― overseeing 28 programs or projects.

One of the biggest awards to a community group ― $15,000 ― is slated for the New London Homeless Hospitality Center, which will use the money to help fund a new housing counseling center at 234 State St.

Homeless Hospitality Center Executive Director Cathy Zall said the counseling facility will focus on helping prospective first-time homeowners while also offering rental education options. She said the grant is just one funding stream – along with donations and federal pandemic relief money ― covering the project’s $200,000 price tag.

“It’s a small piece, but very welcome,” Zall said.

Other awards included $9,000 for the Safe Futures domestic violence response agency; $14,000 for food pantry and community meal services; $10,000 for scholarships to be offered by 7th Regiment Youth Performing Arts group; and $3,000 for a fatherhood initiative run by the Southwestern Counsel on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

Even modest CDBG awards can have an outsized impact on agencies struggling to keep up with community needs. Tina Salcedo, who oversees a diaper bank for the city’s Youth Affairs group, said an incoming $7,500 allotment will help ― but not totally address ― a shortfall in the number of free diapers the group is able to hand out.

“We’ll do some diaper drives and look at other grants going forward,” Salcedo said. “But if it wasn’t for this money, I don’t know what we’d have done.”

On the city side, the recreation department was awarded more than $25,000 for various youth programs, including swim lessons, while the city’s Office of Planning and Development is in line for $604,000 for various rehab and preservation programs.

Initial CBDG requests totaled $1.18 million and were culled by members of the New London Citizens Advisory Council after a pair of application review sessions in February.

The advisory council recommendations were not modified by city officials before being presented to city councilors, according to funding documents. Councilor Alma Nartatez said this year marked the first time in at least six years that the council approved the recommended spending amounts without change.

“I think that’s a testament to the (Citizens Advisory Council) and their due diligence,” Nartatez said, noting members of the volunteer committee frequently conduct site visits with potential awardees.

j.penney@theday.com