Reed Announces $703,000 for Neighborhood Improvement Projects RI’s NeighborWorks affiliates in Providence and Woonsocket receive new grants to invest in local community development
PROVIDENCE, RI – In an effort to help build stronger neighborhoods and create jobs,
U.S. Senator Jack Reed today announced that three Rhode Island non-profit community
development organizations in the NeighborWorks network will receive a total of
$703,000 in federal funding for community development efforts.
Reed, the Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, and
Housing and Urban Development (THUD), which directs federal spending for
NeighborWorks programs, helped secure this funding as part of the most recent
Omnibus Appropriations Act.
Rhode Island’s NeighborWorks affiliates receiving this funding include:
* NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley (Woonsocket) – $331,000
* ONE Neighborhood Builders – (Providence) – $210,000
* West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation (Providence) – $162,000
All three organizations received Organizational Underwriting grants, which provide
flexible operating support based on a holistic assessment of the organizations’
performance over the prior year and plans for the upcoming year. Each non-profit
was also awarded capital grants to make investments in local real estate
developments. Taken together, these federal funds will be used to strengthen
neighborhoods and communities in Providence and Woonsocket.
NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley also received a Community Building &
Engagement grant to support a resident engagement project aimed at developing
resident leaders, supporting resident driven groups, and/or facilitating community
building activities.
«We want to bring people together and get residents, businesses, and community
leaders all taking a collective approach to improving our neighborhoods. From
developing affordable housing to providing commercial and community spaces, Rhode
Island’s NeighborWorks partners have been leaders in innovative housing and
community development projects. These federal funds will be used to continue
supporting their efforts and provide an array of community development services,»
said Senator Reed, who helped secure $175 million for NeighborWorks as part of the
Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2016.
«NeighborWorks America’s flexible funding kickstarts our most innovative
neighborhood revitalization and affordable housing projects, and we are grateful for
this support. We also appreciate Senator Reed’s longstanding policy and legislative
leadership in the affordable housing and community development arena, and his
consistent ability to deliver the resources to our communities to improve the
quality of life for Rhode Islanders,» said Joe Garlick, Executive Director of
NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley.
Reed has long championed efforts to make affordable rental housing options available
to more Americans, and wrote the law creating an affordable housing trust fund to
build, preserve, and rehabilitate affordable rental homes.
NeighborWorks America, a public non-profit organization, is the nation’s leading
trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.
NeighborWorks creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen
their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable
rental housing.
According to NeighborWorks America, in the last five years, the organization and its
partners have generated more than $24.5 billion in reinvestment in the communities
they serve.