By Karissa MInn
kminn@salisburypost.com
EAST SPENCER — The town of East Spencer has been awarded a $500,000 federal grant for rehabilitation and emergency repair of about 15 houses.
Gov. Bev Perdue announced Thursday that 21 counties and communities were awarded NC Catalyst Community Development Block Grants to upgrade various transportation, housing, economic development and public neighborhood projects.
Catalyst funds are dedicated for projects serving persons of low and moderate incomes.
“We’re delighted and excited about the potential for this money,” said Town Administrator Macon Sammons. “We know from the work we’ve done that there are many people who really need this help, especially elderly citizens on fixed incomes who lack the resources to do needed repairs on their homes.”
Sammons said the town took a total of 63 applications for the program, and it will be working on the homes that are most eligible and most in need.
When Mayor Barbara Mallett found out about the award, her joy could be heard throughout the town hall.
“I am elated,” Mallett said. “I am so thankful to God, because he has truly, truly blessed us.”
She said the town was conservative in its estimates for the grant, and it hopes to help more than 15 households with the money.
“I am so happy for our citizens, because they deserve this,” Mallett said. “This is for East Spencer, for our revitalization, for our growth. We’re on our way now.”
The announcement comes as East Spencer prepares to apply for another NC Catalyst grant. More funding could pay for sewer service to homes, additional urgent home repairs, drainage improvements, paving of an unpaved street and sidewalks at high-priority locations.
The town will hold a public hearing about that application at its next Board of Aldermen meeting, which is 6:30 p.m. Monday.
The NC Catalyst grant funds are provided through a federal interagency partnership between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of Transportation (DOT).
The Division of Community Assistance, a division of North Carolina Department of Commerce, administers the CDBG NC Catalyst program.
“These projects revitalize our communities and improve the lives of so many North Carolinians,” Perdue said in a press release. “We’re proud of our local governments and their efforts to strengthen all aspects of their communities, and for the federal government’s assistance in doing that.”
Contact reporter Karissa Minn at 704-797-4222.
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