Kanjorski Announces $3.9 Million in Community Development Block Grants for Scranton

WASHINGTON - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) that the City of Scranton has received $3,911,046 in Community Development Block Grant funding for 2005 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"The Community Development Block Grant program is one of the most important tools for municipalities that do not have the financial means to expand economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income families. Our local governments have become increasingly strapped for money to provide community development initiatives. I applaud Mayor Doherty for directing the city's CDBG funding toward many successful projects, including small business loans that have yielded jobs, street improvements in low-income neighborhoods, a summer playground program in partnership with the school district and Boys and Girls Clubs, citywide park improvements, development of the Ice Box and Riverfront Sports complexes, education programs for small businesses, and creation of retail space in downtown Scranton," Congressman Kanjorski said.

 "In Scranton, the Community Development Block Grant program has been the catalyst for over $250 million in new investment over the past three years," Mayor Chris Doherty said. "I want to thank Congressman Kanjorski for his constant advocacy on behalf of the City and for fighting to preserve CDBG funding. This program is important to Scranton and to every city in America."

The CDBG program, established in 1974, annually provides grants to counties and cities based on a formula allocation that includes population, poverty, housing and community needs.

Congressman Kanjorski last week confronted two top Cabinet officials about the proposed $2 billion in cuts to the CDBG program in the President's 2006 budget at a House Financial Services Committee hearing. Congressman Kanjorski is the second highest Democrat on the Financial Services Committee.

Additionally, Congressman Kanjorski voiced his deep opposition to the 2006 CDBG cuts by co-signing a bipartisan letter to the House Budget Committee. 

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