Starting Monday April 9th, the City of Portland will commemorate National Community Development Week with a series of events beginning with a press conference at City Hall with City of Portland Mayor Michael Brennan and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) recipients who will highlight projects that have helped make Portland a livable community and reasons why funding cuts threaten Portland neighborhoods. Other events scheduled for the week include an informational session to educate the public about the city’s first time home owner and housing rehabilitation programs, a ribbon cutting ceremony for two newly constructed basketball courts in East Bayside, last fall NBA fan favorite Glen Davis helped break ground for the project, and a guided CDBG and HOME walking tour to see and learn about funded projects and hear what is planned for the future.
Established in 1994, HUD’s HOME program was designed to create affordable housing for low-income households by empowering people and communities to create and implement strategies tailored to their specific priorities. The program funds the rehabilitation of income eligible owner-occupied properties with up to four units for as much as $15,000 per unit, and multi-family properties occupied by income eligible tenants. Eligible applicants may receive a forgivable loan, a low interest payable loan at zero to three percent, or a combination of a forgivable loan and a payable loan. Appropriate financing terms will be tailored to an individual applicant’s ability to pay. Deferred payment loans of up to $30,000 are also available for first time homebuyers for down payment assistance and other eligible costs for individuals and families purchasing their first home. Applicants can receive a free heat loss analysis by a Maine Certified Energy Auditor.
The CDBG program provides federal funds to the City of Portland for projects that ensure access to affordable housing, provide services to the city’s most vulnerable, and create jobs through the expansion and retention of businesses. The CDBG program has funded playgrounds at Fox Street, Stone Street, Deering Oaks, Reiche and East End Community Schools; trees throughout the peninsula; Community Policing; numerous sidewalks to improve walk ability within the city, plus landmarks such as the St. Lawrence Church, Abyssinian Meeting House and the Maine Irish Heritage Center.
For more information about these programs, visit www.hud.gov and http://www.portlandmaine.gov/planning/commdev.asp
When & Where:
Monday, April 9, 2:00 PM Press Conference Kicking off Community Development Week
Rotunda, City Hall
Monday, April 9, 7:00 PM City Council to discuss and approve CDBG Funding Allocations
City Council Chambers, City Hall
Tuesday, April 10, 6:00 PM Housing Programs Information Session
Room 24, City Hall
Wednesday, April 11, 3:30 PM Ribbon cutting ceremony for East Bayside basketball courts
Fox Fields, East Bayside
Friday, April 13, 10:00 AM CDBG Walking Tour
Rotunda, City Hall
John Hatcher
Keller Williams Realty - The Hatcher Group
6 Deering Street | Portland, Maine 04101
207-775-2121 Office | 207-775-2122 Fax
http://JohnHatcher.us
John@JohnHatcher.us
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