Montco Receives $2.3 Million In Federal Community Development Grants

NORRISTOWN, PA — Local officials announced recently that Montgomery County received more than $2.3 million in federal dollars to go toward 19 different projects across the county.

The Montgomery County commissioners said that grant awards totaling $2,335,808 were announced by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from its Community Development Block Grant program.

The awards will fund eight municipal improvement projects, seven public service projects, three housing renovation projects and fair housing compliance across Montgomery County, which is Pennsylvania's third largest county.

The federal grant program provides money to help counties develop "viable communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low-and-moderate-income people," states the Montgomery County government website.

The county says that its Office of Housing and Community Development issues a request for proposals application cycle in the first quarter of each year, and that in 2022 a total of $3,651,684 in requests from municipalities, nonprofit organizations and public service organizations came through.

Projects, the county stated, were weighed in terms of impact, completeness, feasibility, county and local planning consistency, project readiness and funding attributes, and those that addressed housing affordability and the potential to impact historically marginalized populations were given more consideration.

Below are the 19 projects that will be receiving Community Development Block Grants in 2022:

• Bridgeport Borough: Borough-wide street improvements — $200,000
• East Greenville Borough: Blaker Drive street improvements — $200,000
• Family Promise of the Main Line: Emergency shelter operations for households with children — $30,000
• Family Promise of Montgomery County: Emergency shelter operations for households with children — $40,000
• Genesis Housing Corporation: Homeowner building repair program — $200,000
• Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania: Fair housing and compliance training — $50,000
• Indian Creek Foundation: Building renovations — $60,000
• Jenkintown Borough: Sidewalk improvements and curb ramps — $200,000
• Laurel House: Emergency shelter operations for households fleeing domestic violence — $37,500
• Montgomery County Housing Authority: Building renovations — $200,000
• North Hills Collective: Education and recreation program for youth — $25,000
• Pottstown Borough: Storm sewer improvements — $200,000
• Resources for Human Development: Emergency shelter operations for single adults — $72,000
• Royersford Borough: Church Street improvements — $64,458
• Salvation Army Norristown: Emergency shelter operations for households with children — $133,850
• Salvation Army Pottstown: Emergency shelter operations for households with children — $158,650
• Springfield Township: Willow Grove Avenue blight removal — $78,950
• West Conshohocken Borough: Sidewalk improvements and curb ramps — $185,400
• West Pottsgrove Township: Sanitary sewer improvements — $200,000