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HomeNewsArchives$2.1M IN BLOCK GRANTS SENT TO SENATE

$2.1M IN BLOCK GRANTS SENT TO SENATE

Aug. 14, 2001 — The late submission of the fiscal year 2001 Community Development Block Grant recommendations to the Senate by Gov. Charles Turnbull means the administration will have to seek an extension from the federal government.
The deadline for the V.I. government to submit its annual list of CDBG funding recipients to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was July 31. The Turnbull administration, however, sent its proposed CDBG bill to the Senate late Monday. Because the Senate will need time to consider the bill, Turnbull said he will request an extension from HUD.
The Turnbull administration had to seek an extension last year because it didn’t submit its list until Aug. 8.
This year, 89 governmental and non-governmental agencies with $13.4 million worth of projects were vying for $2.1 million in CDBG funds. The Department of Planning and Natural Resources, which administers the CDBG program locally, whittled that list down to 37 projects, split equally between St. Croix and the St. Thomas-St. John district.
According to federal regulations, no more than 15 percent of the block grant, or $328,350, may be used for public service projects such as training, counseling or educational services. The remainder of the funding is for construction projects. The 37 projects include:
St. John:
– $10,000 for the V.I. Resource Center for the Disabled to operate an after-school program for the disabled at the Sprauve School.
– $10,825 for the Caraban Ensemble Theater Company to run an after-school theater and weekend library.
– $10,000 for the Caraban Ensemble Theater to rehabilitate a facility to be used for workshops.
– $10,825 for the John Folly Learning Institute to operate an after-school program for low- to moderate-income youths.
– $30,000 for the V.I. Education Department to install lifts and ramps at the Julius Sprauve School for disabled persons.
St. Thomas:
– $15,000 each for the V.I. Resource Center for the Disabled to run an after-school program at 74-75 Kronprindsens Gade; Down Street People Inc. to operate an after-school program for low- and moderate-income youths; Kidscope Crisis Intervention Program to support services to crime victims and their families; Anglican Outreach after-school program; V.I. Mission after-school program; Up Street after-school program; St Thomas Livestock Agriculture Program; Faith Wesleyan Holiness Church after-school program; Methodist Training and Outreach Center after-school program.
– $27,300 for the Methodist Training and Outreach Center to operate a center for the homeless.
– $10,000 for the Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation to run an after-school swimming program.
– $7,500 for the V.I. Housing Authority to run a scuba diving program for youths living in housing projects.
– $250,000 for the Long Path/Garden Street Association to build a community center and playground.
– $39,300 for DHPR to renovate bathroom facilities and make other repairs at Coki Point Beach.
– $40,850 for American Legion Post 90 to renovate its facility.
– $50,000 for the Education Department to make various schools handicap-accessible.
– $220,000 for the Office of the Governor to renovate the fishermen’s facility in Frenchtown.
– $24,000 in matching funds for the Methodist Training and Outreach Center to construct eight single-room units for the homeless.
St. Croix:
– $25,000 each for V.I. Resource Center for the Disabled to run an after-school program at Ricardo Richards Elementary School; DHPR to operate an after-school sports clinic for about 100 at-risk youth.
– $50,000 for the Camp Arawak Program to operate a job-training program for low- to moderate-income persons.
– $16,900 for Proyeeto SAL Inc. to run a tutorial program for children having difficulties with the English language.
– $60,000 for the Adventist Development Relief Agency to build a center to provide after-school programs and operate a soup kitchen.
– $40,000 for Arma Pavie Sport Club Inc. to rehabilitate a baseball field.
– $200,000 for DHPR to construct a community center at Canegata Ballpark.
– $20,000 for DHPR to improve the Vincent Mason public pool.
– $40,000 for DHPR to renovate the Burning Bush facility.
– $21,000 for the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix to construct a fence to ensure the safety of its clients.
– $50,000 for the V.I. Agriculture Department to expand the farmers' market.
– $162,700 to the Education Department to make various schools in the St. Croix District handicap-accessible.
– $50,000 to the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development to rehabilitate structures in Christiansted and Frederiksted.
– $115,000 to Our Town Frederiksted Inc. for grants and low-interest loans so homeowners in the town can rehabilitate their dwellings.
According to DPNR, since 1990 just more than $20 million has been granted to government and non-governmental agencies by the CDBG program.

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