East Coast Region Stories | Community Development Digest

Underutilized Regulation Allows 'Crowdfunding' for DC Property

Fundrise, a Washington, DC-based website launched in August, is allowing Virginia and DC residents to invest in 1351 H Street, NE, a 4,250-square-foot property that will open as a food and retail market in 2013. At $100 per share, the offering provides an easy way to buy a stake in the business, as ...

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NY State Offers $25 Million in Grants to Expand Broadband

New York's Empire State Development Broadband Program Office accepts applications through Oct. 5 for the $25 million Connect NY Broadband grant program to expand high-speed Internet access in rural upstate and urban areas. High-speed Internet expansion is viewed as critical to help local businesses...

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NJ City Asked to Reimburse, Justify CDBG Funds

Elizabeth, NJ is being asked to reimburse more than $1 million in either ineligible or unreported program income, according to a new HUD Office of Inspector General (OIG) report.

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NY State Seeks Applicants for Brownfields Project Funds

New York municipalities and community-based groups have until Sept. 27 to apply for funding in the state Office of Communities and Waterfronts' (OCW) Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) program. The BOA provides technical and financial assistance covering up to 90% of the total project costs, to help...

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EDA Grant Expands Pennsylvania Business Incubator

Commerce Department officials provide a $500,000 grant to the Allentown (PA) Economic Development Corporation and the Allentown Commercial and Industrial Development Authority to expand a local business incubator.

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New York City Seeks Plans to Develop Industrial Sites

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYEDC) seeks proposals to buy and develop for industrial use four vacant and underutilized sites -- two in Brooklyn and one each in the Bronx and Queens.

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Philadelphia Seeks Proposals for Low-Income Housing

The Philadelphia Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) seeks proposals to build low- and moderate-income rental units using money from HUD's CDBG and HOME Investment Partnerships Program and the city's Housing Trust Fund (HTF). The Request for Proposals (RFP) seeks to provide gap finan...

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Track Record Cited in Success of Brownfields Project

Framingham, MA collects its third Brownfields Assessment Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a $400,000 award allowing the city to continue property assessment efforts for three more years. Gene Kennedy, assistant director of the Community and Economic Development Department, cred...

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Maine Senate to Consider Bill Limiting Eminent Domain

Maine state Sen. Doug Thomas (R) is pushing legislation (LR-95) seeking a state constitutional amendment protecting property owners from eminent domain seizures leading to private development. Currently, the state authorizes local governments' use of eminent domain in cases of blight and for use b...

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Maryland County Asked to Return, Justify HOME Funds

Prince Georges County, MD is asked to return $2.4 million in ineligible HOME Investment Partnerships Program spending, justify or repay another $1.3 million, and reprogram $4.7 million for eligible spending by HUD's Office of Inspector General (OIG). The OIG's report says the county failed to prope...

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