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The grant will also pay for new energy efficient windows for the 132-unit development, which dates from the 1950s.
"This means that we're going to be able to get 44 of our duplex units rehabilitated, which is really good news," said Robert Prentice, chairman of the authority's board of commissioners. "We've been ticking away at a lot of those units with minor repairs over the years, but this is going to allow us to do a major overhaul."
Prentice said the grant should allow the authority, which functions largely as an independent, nonprofit organization, to replace about 22 roofs, and renovate about 35 kitchens and bathrooms in the development
The grant is part of $13.5 million distributed to improve housing in 29 communities across the state as part of the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The money can be used for economic development, infrastructure upgrades and affordable housing projects.
The state's Department of Economic and Community Development administers the funds, which were announced by Gov. M. Jodi Rell last week.
The grant will go to the town and then to the WHA. Town officials could not be reached Monday, Columbus Day, to provide a timetable for the project.
Last month, the authority got word of a $925,000 grant under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act to finance sidewalk, curbing and street repairs in and around the Ulbrich Heights neighborhood.
"We've been very, very fortunate" to receive these grants, said Stephen Nere, the authority's executive director. "We've been making a very concentrated effort to seek out these grants, and Lord knows we need them."
The authority received a similar Small Cities grant in 2007, also for $700,000, which it is using to renovate its senior citizens housing complex, East Side Terrace.
dmoran@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224
