Delahunt Announces Federal Funds For Barnstable, Yarmouth, And Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe

08/07/2008

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bill Delahunt announced today that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will be providing $480,000 to the Towns of Yarmouth and Barnstable and $567,977 to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe for their housing and community development programs.  

“Over the years, Cape towns have come to rely on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to boost access to affordable housing and to improve the quality of life for everyone in our community,” Delahunt said.   

The Town of Barnstable will receive $348,630 and the Town of Yarmouth will receive $138,987 in assistance.  The CDBG funds are provided under HUD’s CDBG entitlement allocation, which means these communities receive an allocation of funding every year.  The federal government requires these funds be used to help low to moderate income residents.  In recent years, town officials have used these funds for affordable housing, upgrading failing septic systems, alleviating blighted conditions on Route 28, and other local economic development efforts.   

Delahunt has been working on a bi-partisan basis to boost the overall funding levels to $4.1 billion for FY09. The Bush Administration has proposed to cut the CDBG program by 19 percent, to $3.4 billion.  Over the past five years, the administration has cut the formula allocation by 37 percent, which has led to reductions in funding for many entitlement communities.

“I want to commend the Selectmen in Yarmouth and the Town Manager’s office in Barnstable for running outstanding CDBG programs.” Delahunt said.  “With the community development program under attack in Washington and funding levels being cut, it is these successful local efforts that will help us keep the program alive.” 

Delahunt also announced that HUD would also be providing $569,977 to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe under the Indian Housing Block Grant program.  The funds will be used to aid the development of affordable housing for tribe members and may include: new construction, acquisition, modernization, housing counseling, or rehabilitation of existing properties.

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