Berlin Mayor Salina: Town is Awarded $500,000 Small Cities Block Grant

Mayor Adam Salina has announced that the Town of Berlin has received notification from Governor Dannel Malloy of an award of a $500,000 through the Small Cities Block Grant Program, which is administered by Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development.  The Town will use the funding to renovate Marjorie Moore Village, a 40-unit, senior affordable housing complex managed by the Berlin Housing Authority.

“This funding will go a long way with the improvements of Marjorie Moore Village.  Renovations will include ADA upgrades, the installation of a generator and the rehabilitation of the bathrooms and kitchens” explained Mayor Salina.  “I would like to thank Governor Malloy for his support of our application and also thank Representative Joe Aresimowicz for his continued support for Berlin as he continues to fight for additional funding for our community”.

“Providing quality affordable housing for our seniors is essential – this is great news for Marjorie Moore residents,” said State Representative Joe Aresimowicz.  “State support like this is vital for local projects.  It helps reduce the pressure on the municipal budgets and keep our local property taxes down.”

BHA Chairman Joseph Bajorski was elated with the news.  “With the proceeds of this grant award we will start on a project, that when finished, will have totally renovated the Marjorie Moore Complex.  In addition to replacing kitchens, ADA improvements to bathrooms, energy efficiency improvements, and upgrading site lighting we will be installing an emergency generator for our Community Building.  The Generator will allow us to continue our office operations while at the same time allowing our residents a familiar space for shelter and the ability to keep life saving medications refrigerated during periods of prolonged power outage.  I wish to thank the Commissioners, Staff and Contractors of the Berlin Housing Authority along with the Mayor, Town Manager and Town Councilors for all their work to make our application a successful one.”

Berlin was one of 31 towns in Connecticut to receive funding.  The Governor announced that Connecticut received a total amount of $10,987,840 by the Department of Economic and Community Development, the administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Small Cities Community Development Block Grant program.  The Small Cities Program funds economic development, affordable housing, and other community revitalization projects.