Resources to Support Housing and Public Facilities Initiatives throughout the State
(Concord, N.H.) – The New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) has awarded $3.4 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to New Hampshire communities. These critical resources will support housing and public facility projects in communities throughout the state.
“Community Development Block Grant funds are a vital resource for New Hampshire communities to deliver critical services and infrastructure needed around the state,” stated Katherine Easterly Martey, Executive Director, CDFA. “These investments in increasing access to affordable housing, child care, public health supports, social services and community centers will make a significant impact on residents in each of the seven communities awarded funds.”
Projects approved by CDFA’s Community Development Advisory Committee include:
City of Laconia – Partnership for Public Health, Inc. (Public Facilities): The Partnership for Public Health, Inc. will leverage $419,250 improve accessibility and energy efficiency which will reduce operating costs and help focus cost savings on impactful programming and long-term sustainability. Renovations to the building located in downtown Laconia will allow the organization to better serve the more than 4,000 clients, 79 percent of whom qualify as low- and moderate-income.
Town of Conway – The Way Station (Public Facilities): The $499,625 grant for The Way Station will support renovations to the facility that serves individuals experiencing homelessness. Funds will help renovate the existing resource center space and create three new transitional housing units for clients.
Town of Gorham – Gorham Community Learning Center (Public Facilities): The $500,000 grant will support the Gorham Community Learning Center in acquiring and rehabilitating a vacant building to relocate and expand its existing childcare center. The Center will secure a license for seventy infants and children, which will add thirty-one new child care spaces and four to five full-time early childhood education jobs. More than half the children served at the new center will be from families who are of low-to moderate-income.
Town of Henniker – White Birch Community Center, Inc. (Public Facilities): A $500,000 grant to the White Birch Community Center, Inc. will be used to renovate a facility that will include a food pantry, senior center and family resource center. The Center will be a handicap accessible, centrally located social service center which will provide and coordinate a multitude of services for more than 600 individuals of whom 55 percent qualify as low- and moderate-income.
Town of Hillsborough – Bridge Street Realty Trust (Housing): The $500,000 grant for the Bridge Street Realty Trust to renovate an empty, historic property in downtown Hillsborough and create six units of affordable housing. All units will be occupied by persons who are of low- and moderate-income.
Town of Meredith – Lakes Region Community Developers (Housing): A grant of $500,000 for Lakes Region Community Developers will replace four manufactured homes in Frances Court Park, which has a total of thirteen-units. All four units will be rented to individuals who are of low- and moderate-income and preserved long-term as affordable.
Town of Whitefield – Affordable Housing Education and Development (Housing): A grant of $500,000 for Affordable Housing Education and Development (AHEAD) to acquire and renovate a historic building in downtown Whitefield, creating four units of rental housing on the second and third floors. Three units will be available to individuals who qualify as low- and moderate-income.
The grant awards await final approval from the Governor and Executive Council.
CDFA has awarded more than $200 million in Community Development Block Grant funds since 2003. These critical federal resources have been deployed to communities throughout New Hampshire and have a significant impact on economic development, housing and community-based initiatives which primarily benefit low- and moderate-income people in New Hampshire. Funding for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is provided to New Hampshire through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
To learn more about CDFA, its impact on New Hampshire communities, and available funding resources, visit www.nhcdfa.org.
About the Community Development Finance Authority
The Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) is a statewide nonprofit public authority focused on maximizing the value and impact of community development, economic development and clean energy initiatives throughout New Hampshire. The organization leverages a variety of financial and technical resources, including the competitive deployment of grant, loan and equity programs. Those resources include New Hampshire state tax credits, federal Community Development Block Grant resources and the CDFA Clean Energy Fund. For more information about CDFA and its programs visit www.nhcdfa.org or call 603-226-2170.
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