CUOMO ANNOUNCES $557,750 IN GRANTS FOR COMMUNITIES
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNDER NEW HUD DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM

The grants will help the communities recover from rainstorms and flooding that hit the state last October and caused significant damage to homes, roads, businesses and public facilities.

The grants were authorized under disaster relief legislation signed into law by President Clinton in June.

"No amount of money can erase the terrible devastation caused by last fall's severe storms and flooding in New Hampshire, but this assistance can help speed recovery efforts to create stronger and better communities," Cuomo said. "The Clinton Administration and all Americans stand with the people of New Hampshire in our determination to rebuild from the damage caused by this disaster as completely and quickly as humanly possible."

Cuomo made the grant announcement from Washington in a conference call to Governor Jeanne Shaheen and other officials in New Hampshire.

Funds under the new HUD Disaster Recovery Program can be used for long-term recovery efforts, property buyouts, relocations and efforts to prevent future flood damage. The program will give communities great flexibility in meeting local needs quickly.

Communities can use funds for: rehabilitation of residential and commercial buildings; acquisition, construction or reconstruction of public facilities and improvements, including streets, neighborhood centers, and water and sewer facilities; homeownership assistance, including downpayment assistance and interest rate subsides; building new replacement housing; code enforcement; and assistance to businesses for carrying out economic development activities for job creation and retention.

The HUD assistance will supplement aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal agencies.

"We welcome this help from HUD to reduce the cost of recovering from this storm," Governor Shaheen said. "The grants from HUD's Disaster Recovery Program will ease the burden of dealing with the damage from this flood and future disasters."

Read the fact sheet.