Minneapolis Public Housing gets $31.8 million in U.S. Recovery Act Funds
Federal funds to create innovative senior center and green housing
October 1, 2009 (MINNEAPOLIS, MN) Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) Executive Director Cora McCorvey have announced that MPHA will be receiving $31.8 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for three innovative housing initiatives in Minneapolis.
The $31.8M in funds, received through a national competitive process, will be used for the following three initiatives:
1. Design and build a new state of the art Senior Center in Heritage Park in North Minneapolis. MPHA is partnering with Northpoint Health and Wellness Center, Minneapolis YMCA, Augustana Services, Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis and others to create a community resource center that will provide an array of services to elderly residents, including medical, adult daycare, social and recreational services. Primary funding: $10.5 million in ARRA funds and $3.8 million in New Market Tax Credits.
2. Develop a 48 unit Green Senior Housing Development near the proposed new Senior Center that will partner with Hennepin County to provide housing and supportive services to frail, elderly, low-income residents who have memory loss issues. This innovative memory care development will use various energy efficiency methods and green technologies, including solar and geothermal. In addition, the structure will be built with green materials and be designed to reduce the development’s carbon footprint, all while providing specialized memory loss care. Primary Funding: $9.7 million in ARRA Dollars and $5.1 million in leveraged funding, including $872,234 in MPHA funds.
3. Make significant "Green Initiative" energy improvements to reduce energy and water consumption by replacing outdated systems at 733 MPHA properties. The improvements will enhance operational efficiencies of building systems and result in significant savings that will add to the long term preservation of housing resources, reduce the agency’s carbon footprint and save significant costs related to energy use and consumption. This initiative will benefit not only MPHA and its residents but also taxpayers. Primary Funding: $11.6 million in ARRA Dollars and $1.1 million in MPHA Central Office funds.
"We are thrilled that Minneapolis continues to compete well for federal economic recovery funds," Mayor Rybak said. "This incredible investment into our community will not only make lives better for many vulnerable seniors, it will also put people to work and help further develop Minneapolis’ fast-growing green economy."
"These grants not only contribute to the improvement of MPHA housing and services for residents, but will also have a significant impact on the economic recovery of our community in the short run and the long term viability of affordable housing and supportive services for generations to come," said Cora McCorvey, MPHA Executive Director.
President Obama signed the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) on February 17, 2009, providing $787 billion to assist in our nation’s economic recovery and to create and preserve needed jobs. Included in this Act were $4 billion for Housing and Urban Development Capital Funds to be distributed to public housing agencies, of which $3 billion dollars have been disbursed according to the HUD Capital Fund Formula. MPHA received $18.2 million earlier this year from these formula funds. An additional $1 billion in appropriations was more recently awarded through a national competition, including the $31.8 million described above.
Published Oct. 1, 2009