WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to help revitalize local neighborhoods and provide more Rhode Islanders with safe and affordable housing, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced that Cranston, Warwick, and Woonsocket will receive over $4 million in federal aid through the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program. Senator Reed helped secure these funds in the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which was approved by the U.S. Senate earlier this year.

Community Development Block Grants are being awarded to Cranston ($1.09 million), Warwick ($932,000), and Woonsocket ($1.33 million). Woonsocket will also receive $582,000 in Home Investment Partnership (HOME) funds and $58,000 in Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG).

"This is a flexible source of federal funding that helps create jobs and economic opportunities for local businesses. These funds will help spur economic development, provide affordable housing, and help improve public facilities," said Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee who helped secure this funding.

The CDBG program provides local municipalities with a flexible source of federal funding to address a wide range of neighborhood development needs. The money may be used for capital-improvement projects or distributed to non-profit organizations that benefit the community.

The HOME program helps to expand the supply of quality, affordable housing to working families by providing federal grants to state and local governments to fund housing programs.

The ESG program provides annual grants to state and local governments as well as private entities to upgrade and expand emergency homeless shelters.

Earlier this month Reed announced $815,000 in CDBG funding for East Providence.