ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen approved a $1.35 million application for federal Community Development Block Grants to fund road repairs and housing rehabilitation. 

 

"This year is another good opportunity for the town to apply for CDBG funds," Community Development Director Eammon Coughlin told the board on Wednesday. "It's an interesting application because it's going to provide us two years. When we budgeted this grant the last time back in 2021, the maximum amount requested was $800,000. 

 

"This year provides us with $1.35 million. So it's a chance to get quite a bit of work done."

 

The application is for both fiscal 2022 and 2023, which the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has combined. Adams' application is through the state Department of Housing and Community Development. The state has projected level funding of $68,652,058 total for both fiscal years, of which $48 million will be available to town and cities that do not fall in the entitlement programs.  

 

The maximum amount any community can apply for is $1.35 million, though that amount is not guaranteed because the program is competitive. The application is due on March 3.

 

Program manager Rebeca Ferguson said the application would focus on two allowable areas: paving on four streets in the downtown area and the housing rehabilitation program. 

 

"In the last 10 years, we rehabbed 51 units. We're going to apply in this grant for approximately eight units at a total of $388,000, $256,000 will go directly toward rehab projects," she said. "Then $132,000 will go toward program delivery."

 

The program administration funds help to pay for staff positions and a housing rehab consultant. Housing rehabilitation funds are used to bring residential structures into compliance with modern building codes through such improvements as asbestos and lead paint abatement, energy conservation and weatherization, and plumbing and electrical repairs. 

 

Community Development has selected four streets within the federally designated Route 8 target area for repaving and sidewalk rebuilding: Albert, Cook, Randall and Pleasant. Upgrading Albert and Cook would build upon previous work on Crotteau Street and enhance the planned park at the old coal and grain site on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. The other two streets will benefit the downtown. 

 

"We do have a history of doing similar construction projects and with CDBG money," Ferguson said, noting that included the Park Street streetscape project, the Visitor Center parking lot and Russell Field. 

 

In response to questions, she said the criteria is largely the public benefit, with a focus on low- to moderate-income individuals and quality of life. 

 

"We've been successful over the years with these applications and hope to be successful again," she said. "It's hard to know, this is a different year with two years combined, but we sort of tend to do well."

 

The board also heard from resident Pam Sherman, whose home has been part of the rehabilitation program. The contractor had left work unfinished but Community Development has been working with her to have another contractor finish the work. 

 

"We've identified everything that needs to be completed and we're going to throw out the bid for a contractor to complete everything that's left to be done," said Chair John Duval. Sherman said that was correct.