SCHUMER: CDBG FUNDING IS THE LIFE BLOOD FOR SYRACUSE; REPORTED ADMIN BUDGET WOULD ELIMINATE CRITICAL FUNDING FOR LOCALLY-DRIVEN PROJECTS THAT SPUR INVESTMENT AND ADDRESS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES – SCHUMER VOWS TO PROTECT CRITICAL FED INVESTMENT
Administration Reportedly Eliminating HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program In Upcoming Fiscal Year –Syracuse Has Already Received More Than $54 Million Over The Past Decade And Used the Fed Investment As A Major Driver In Local Development Projects
Syracuse Received Over $4.4M in FY ‘16 To Help Fund Key Public Service Programs & Neighborhood Housing Initiatives
Schumer: Huge CDBG Cuts Would Be Devastating For Syracuse
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today sounded the alarm and expressed serious concerns over reports that the administration will eliminate all funding to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)- the proposed elimination Schumer says would put countless community development and infrastructure projects at risk in Syracuse and across Central New York. Schumer promised to fight to protect the CDBG program, which is currently scheduled to receive $3 billion from HUD.
“Decimating CDBG would be incredibly damaging to Syracuse because it is a non-replaceable stream of investment in essential services for area residents and economic development projects,” said Senator Schumer. “That is why I would fight these drastic cuts tooth and nail to make sure the CDBG program remains fully funded and that Syracuse gets the money it deserves. More than ever, we need to make sure our local governments and communities have the resources they need to modernize their infrastructure, deliver vital services to working families and seniors and continue the neighborhood revitalization efforts critical to local economic development.”
Schumer explained CDBG funds are distributed across the U.S., where they are then dispersed to localities to fund development projects. According to HUD, the CDBG program provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. The CDBG program funds affordable housing projects, provides services to the most vulnerable members of our communities, and creates jobs through the expansion and retention of businesses. Schumer said these grants are critical to cities like Syracuse because they are capable of funding the kinds of business development, housing, and revitalization projects that that are essential to the success of these local economies. Schumer added the number of communities eligible for CDBG funds has more than doubled in recent years. Schumer said eliminating the program will not only affect Syracuse but municipalities across the state who will have to end neighborhood housing rehabilitation and development projects.
Schumer said the City of Syracuse has received millions in CDBG funds including over $4.4 million in just FY 2016. Nearly two-dozen community organizations receive funding as part of Syracuse’s CDBG allocation. Those organizations use the funding to provide a range of services, from encouraging home ownership and tenant counseling to workforce development and youth education. Between 2014 and 2015, with the assistance of CDBG funds, 3,571 households were assisted by the City of Syracuse through community development and affordable housing programs. Schumer said if CDBG is eliminated nationwide, this could harm the localities like Syracuse that depend on this funding for projects.
Schumer said cuts or the elimination of CDBG and other programs would harm state and local governments ability to address economic development challenges. Municipalities rely on CDBG to create jobs, makes essential infrastructure projects possible, and addresses unique housing needs that benefit elderly, disabled, veterans and economically-vulnerable communities – all without burdening the local taxpayers. Schumer said, if enacted, the outright destruction of the program would diminish much of the progress that has been made in the Syracuse area to revitalize low- and moderate- income neighborhoods.
CDBG funds are distributed to states, counties, villages, towns, and cities across the U.S. to fund development projects. According to HUD, the CDBG program funds affordable housing projects, provides services to the most vulnerable people in our communities and creates jobs through the expansion and retention of businesses. The CDBG program provides annual grants on a formula basis to over 1,200 general units of local and state governments.
###
