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Cities Celebrate National Community
Development Week By
Eugene T. Lowe Hundreds of cities and
counties celebrated the 14th Annual National Community Development Week
campaign during the week of April 24 - 30. As in previous years, the week
long celebration gave local jurisdictions as well as the states the
opportunity to demonstrate how the flexibility of the Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) program has helped address the physical, economic, and
human services needs of low-and moderate income citizens. The theme of this
year's celebration was CDBG: People Strengthening Communities Strengthening
People. Below are a few of
the cities and their activities during National Community Development Week: In Burlington, Vermont,
Mayor Peter Clavelle hosted a Community Development Luncheon as he has every
year during National Community Development Week. Senator James Jeffords (VT)
and Representative Bernard Sanders and a representative from Senator Patrick
Leahy's office participated in the event. In Richmond, California,
the focus was on a graduation ceremony for 17 participants in
micro-enterprise business start ups - new strategies for promoting housing
opportunities for low-income residents. In Fall River,
Massachusetts, Mayor Edward M. Lambert, Jr. praised CDBG as a program that
affects the quality of community life more than any other federal program.
He said during a lunch kicking off National Community Development Week, "We
give them dollars. The project directors make it work." In Auburn, New York, an
open house and block party was held in an area that included 16 adjacent
properties being rehabilitated by non-profit partners using CDBG, HOME and
the Low Income Housing Tax Credit. Celebrating the contribution of the CDBG
program, the event provided a marketing opportunity for both potential
owners and tenants. In Greenville, South
Carolina, the Greenville Recreation District, and the Freetown Community
celebrated the groundbreaking of a new $600,000 (CDBG funded) community
center, which will provide recreation activities, services for elderly,
parenting classes, boys and girls clubs, after-school programs, early
childcare, neighborhood socials, and musicals.
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