04-07-09 Henry County-McDonough Awarded Grant From Neighborhood Stabilization Program

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs has announced the awarding of $6,251,265 to Henry County/McDonough for the joint submittal of a competitive grant under the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). The award is a part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 administered through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Sandra Vincent, District II City Councilmember for the City of McDonough, and Michael Sabine, Assistant County Manager for Henry County, are credited with authoring the grant application. Councilmember Vincent states, “The success of this application was predicated upon collaboration. There was a great deal of teamwork on the part of McDonough and Henry County. The staff support from Henry County, coordinated by Michael Harris, Planning and Development Division Director, was tremendous as well as statistical input from the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Kathryn Lawler and Mike Alexander. We were even fortunate to have citizen input from former Henry County Planner Julius Ross. This process was an exercise in the collaborative process.”

Council Member Vincent started communications with Henry County leadership regarding participation and partnering after she had attended several Department of Community Affairs (DCA) sponsored meetings on NSP. Because of her professional knowledge of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded programs, she was able to take a more hands-on approach in garnering participation, navigating the leadership, and providing technical assistance in the development of the grant application. “Applying for the funds was politically a hard sell, but in the end, everyone came together,” stated Council Member Vincent.

The Neighborhood Stabilization Program will allow for the purchase of foreclosed homes at a discount. The funds will be used to purchase and redevelop foreclosed properties that might otherwise become sources of abandonment and blight within the community. As an added level of community support and revitalization efforts, Councilmember Vincent says the program will seek to layer additional support through another HUD fund designed to assist Law enforcement officers, pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade teachers, and firefighters/emergency medical technicians.

Vincent’s one disappointment is that the structure of the grant does not provide assistance for those who are being threatened by foreclosure or currently in foreclosure. Because of this, she has gained the endorsement of the Mayor and Council in organizing a foreclosure prevention forum. The Forum will commence during the 2nd quarter of 2009 and will provide information and agency resources to citizens on foreclosure prevention. Any organization wishing to participate should e-mail Councilperson Vincent at svincent@MCDONOUGH-GA.GOV .