Grant Funding for Reinhard Demolition Reauthorized

Several local communities will benefit from Northampton County's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding allocations, which were approved unanimously by County Council Aug. 4.

Included among the funding allocations was the reauthorization of a 2009 grant Hellertown received to help pay for the demolition of the 101-year-old Reinhard School--a project that has been on hold while the county awaits final approval of the demolition plan from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

According to Borough Manager Cathy Kichline, the $100,000 award needed to be reauthorized by county council because it was scheduled to expire Oct. 31.

Hellertown Borough Council members were originally told to , but at their Aug. 1 council meeting, engineer Bryan Smith said county officials were still awaiting the go-ahead from HUD officials.

Kichline said the borough did not receive a hoped-for 2011 CDBG grant to help pay for the installation of handicapped-accessible sidewalk ramps in Hellertown, but added that the borough "will try again next year."

Among the communities awarded 2011 CDBG funds were Wilson, West Easton, Nazareth and Upper Nazareth Township.

Wilson is slated to receive $100,000 to rehabilitate five homes owned by people with low-incomes in the coming year, and West Easton will receive $54,600 to repair an overflowing sewer.

In Nazareth, residents of 29 properties along Spring Street will benefit from $194,000 in storm water runoff improvements, while in Upper Nazareth Township, $311,322 was allocated to rehabilitate 15 homes owned by people with low incomes.

Several agencies also received funding in support of county-wide programs.

The Lehigh Valley Community Land Trust plans to acquire and rehabilitate as many as four homes with the $350,000 it was allocated. Homes sold through the trust go to qualified low-income buyers and are deeded to remain permanently affordable.

New Bethany Ministries of Bethlehem intends to assist 65 Northampton County residents with personal finance issues with the $23,000 it will receive, and North Penn Legal Services will use $30,000 of the CDBG funds to investigate fair housing complaints, as well as provide education and fair housing outreach services.

The Northampton County Department of Economic Development will receive 9.9 percent of the total county CDBG funding allocation, which is $1,624,288 for the 2011 fiscal year, to cover administrative costs.