Mayor Thomas Announces Details of 2018 Community Development Action Plan
$2.1 Million in Grants to Fund Mount Vernon Programs
Initiatives Range from Neighborhood Revitalization to Youth Sports
Mayor Richard Thomas today announced the details of the city’s $2.1 million action plan for its 2018 Community Development Program, which covers a host of quality of life initiatives, such as neighborhood revitalization, economic development, crime prevention, foreclosure counseling and increased recreational opportunities for low-and-moderate income youth.
The action plan was approved by the Urban Renewal Agency Board on Monday. The bulk of the money comes from two federal programs: $1,633,848 in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and $467,855 in Home Funds. In addition, the City of Mount Vernon is putting $52,580 into the plan.
“These dollars contribute directly to the vitality of our City,” Mayor Thomas said. “The money goes toward making our economy stronger, our work force more employable, our streets safer, and our sick and hungry healthier. I want to thank everyone who participated in putting the action plan together. There is never as much money as we want or need, but careful thought went into stretching every dollar and ensuring the funds are going where they can do the most good.”
The action plan was put together by members of the Planning Department, led by Commissioner Chantelle Okarter, and a three-member Independent Citizens Review Committee, made up of Darryl Selsey, chairman, Planning Board, Redina Hembree, owner of Kings Southern Delight, and Kevin Jackson, a Mount Vernon resident and senior relationship manager at LRG Wealth Advisors. The plan was unveiled at a public hearing on Thursday evening at City Hall.
Nonprofit groups applying for funds were graded on criteria that included organizational capacity, experience, past performance and the City’s need for the services.
The largest slice of the CDBG funding — $700,000 — will go toward neighborhood revitalization programs. This includes code enforcement, sidewalk and curb replacements and improvements at the Mount Vernon Public Library. The work on the streets and at the Library will both focus on accessibility for the disabled.
The CDBG funds will also be used for economic development ($342,000 for programs involving small business assistance, job training, college scholarships and crime prevention) and public services ($297,657 for programs to feed the hungry, prevent eviction and foreclosure, and support youth summer camps, computer access and sports teams, like the Razorbacks).
The $467,856 in Home Funds will go to a variety of programs dealing with housing needs, such as home residential rehabilitation and assisting with down payments and closing costs.
“The Community Development Block Grant program is a huge lifeline for the City of Mount Vernon” said Commissioner Chantelle Okarter. “In addition to existing programs, we are supporting new programs to support domestic violence victims, bridge the digital divide and provide small business assistance. We are also partnering with Feeding Westchester to expand efforts to address childhood hunger in the City.”
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