The state Department of Housing has released an action plan on how the state will distribute $66 million in federal Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funding to continue the state’s Superstorm Sandy mitigation efforts so the public can make comments on it, according to Gov. Dannel Malloy.
The public comment period started on Feb. 14 and ends on March 20.
“Immediately in the wake of Super Storm Sandy, we aggressively began pursuing federal funding to assist the thousands of individuals, families and small businesses impacted by that historic storm. With this second allocation of CDBG money, we see our hard work is now paying off,” Malloy said in a statement. “Once this funding is approved, we want to ensure that it is put to the best possible use, helping the communities and people who need it the most. We want the public’s help with this and are inviting residents and other stakeholders to give us their input by visiting our official disaster recovery website, reviewing our action plan and submitting a comment.”
To date, more than $500 million in federal assistance has been approved to help Connecticut with damages and expenses in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
Last July, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provided $71.82 million to Connecticut after approving its action plan to help residents, businesses and communities recover and rebuild after Superstorm Sandy.
In November, HUD announced a second allocation of CDBG-DR funding in the amount of $66 million. Before the state can receive any of this funding, DOH has to submit a finalized action plan and obtain HUD approval.
“The public has an important role to play in determining how we spend these federal dollars, so it is my hope they take the time to read the plan and let their voices be heard,” DOH Commissioner Evonne Klein said.
DOH plans to use the money to address any remaining unmet housing needs after Superstorm Sandy, such as rehabilitation and resiliency planning activities for impacted homeowners.
In addition, $30 million of the $66 million total is targeted for infrastructure projects and only projects in Fairfield, New London, New Haven, and Middlesex counties and the Mashantucket Pequot tribal area are eligible for assistance.
VIEW AND COMMENT:
View the action plan online.
Public comments on the plan must be e-mailed to DOH at CT.Housing.Plans@ct.gov by midnight on March 20.
