Iowa City Celebrate National Community Development Week

Iowa City IA

03 April, 2021

3:07 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Iowa City: April 2, 2021 The City of Iowa City will celebrate National Community Development Week from April 5-9, 2021. As part of the celebration, the City is spotlighting the many ways federal funds have helped strengthen the Iowa City community. Iowa City is a recipient of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds, receiving over $1.2 million dollars annually from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These funds support long-term community viability by providing safe, decent, affordable housing, creating livable and accessible neighborhoods, and expanding economic opportunities. Iowa City has been receiving CDBG funding for 46 years. In the last five years, over $3.2 million in CDBG funds have been invested in Iowa City. These funds help low-income homeowners complete necessary improvements to their properties, provide low-interest loans for entrepreneurs, allow for accessibility improvements in local parks, and support agencies serving our at-risk youth, elderly, and residents with disabilities. The HOME program has allowed the City, with the help of private and nonprofit partners, to create and preserve affordable housing for the past 29 years. In the past five years, over $2.8 million in HOME funds has been invested in Iowa City for affordable housing. Funds have been used to create and preserve 118 units, including rehabilitation, down payment assistance, acquisition and new construction. Throughout the week, City social media platforms will be featuring how this money is being used locally. A few highlights of CDBG and HOME funds helping the community include: $636,000 to Emergency Housing Assistance payments for individuals and households impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Awarding over 100 grants and loans to homeowners for housing rehab. $75,000 a year to help improve parks like Wetherby Park, Villa Park, and Highland Park. This press release was produced by the City of Iowa City. The views expressed here are the author's own.