Mayor Weinberger, with Nancy Owens (Housing Vermont), Brenda Torpy (Champlain Housing Trust) and residents of the new Bright Street Co-operative as they received the 2017 Audrey Nelson Award for an excellent Community Development Project from our kick-off event. Courtesy photo.
Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger on Tuesday issued a proclamation supporting the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program by recognizing National Community Development Week, April 17- 21, 2017. Spearheaded by the National Community Development Association (NCDA), National Community Development Week serves as an opportunity for the City of Burlington to celebrate its significant successes in providing housing, economic resources, and community services to thousands of Burlingtonians under federal grant funding.
Events this year include:
- Monday, April 17 – At the 3:30pm Bright Street Cooperative Ice Cream Social, Mayor Miro Weinberger will present Champlain Housing Trust and Housing Vermont with the 2017 Audrey Nelson Community Development Award and recognize the significant contributions of the CDBG and HOME funds in this award-winning housing development.
- Wednesday, April 19 - Mayor Weinberger and several City Hall staff members will have lunch with area seniors at the Heineberg Senior Center and recognize CDBG funded projects.
- Thursday, April 20 – Marcy Esbjerg, Assistant Director of CEDO, will join Kelly Dougherty, Executive Director of STEPS, on WVMT’s Charlie, Ernie and Lisa Show at 8:40am.
The CDBG program assists local governments – rural, suburban, and urban alike – in providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and economic opportunities for all community members. Burlington has leveraged CDBG funds to develop infrastructure, provide housing and health services, and spur economic opportunities for our city’s diverse community members, including youth, elderly, people experiencing homelessness, and entrepreneurs:
- In Burlington in 2015, 1,200 homeless persons benefited from shelter assistance and services under CDBG funds. CDBG-funded agencies provided meals for 47 low income children in child care centers and assisted over 800 people with tax assistance.
- CDBG funds have been critical in advancing infrastructure and housing assistance initiatives; home sharing, home-based senior services, and other housing retention assistance helped over 348 Burlington residents remain housed and living independently and ensured 40 co-operative rental units were completed in 2015.
- CDBG funds propel economic opportunity. In 2015, the Community & Economic Development Office provided technical assistance to 40 current or potential entrepreneurs; Mercy Connections facilitated entrepreneurial training to 25 women interested in starting businesses. These initiatives resulted in a combined nine new businesses and eleven business expansions within Burlington in 2015.
This year marks the 43rd anniversary of the national CDBG program. Now in its 26th year, the HOME program provides grants to over 600 local jurisdictions to create safe, sanitary, and affordable housing in communities nationwide. Both programs are administered nationally by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
CDBG has been cut by $1 billion since Fiscal Year 2010, yet the need for comprehensive community development initiatives in Burlington continues to grow. This coming year, President Trump is recommending the elimination of both of these important programs.
Source: Burlington. 4.18.2017