NORWOOD -- A public hearing will be held at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 15 to provide residents with information about the Community Development Block Grant program.

The hearing will be held in the Norwood Library, 1 Morton St.

A second public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at the library, where residents can get more detailed information about the application being submitted on behalf of the village for funding through the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant program.

The CDBG program has in the past provided funds for a variety of projects including housing, economic development, community facilities and removal of slums and blight. To be considered for funding, a project must principally address the needs of low- and moderate-income persons.

In 2008, the Norwood was awarded $400,000 from the program for a housing rehabilitation project. Due to the success of that program and continued need in the village, the St. Lawrence County Planning Office is preparing this new application on behalf of the village.

Mayor Jim McFaddin notes, “The last grant truly improved the quality of life for the participants and improved the appearance of our village.”

The village is asking all low- and moderate-income residents who need assistance making repairs to their homes to contact the North Country Housing Council (formerly known as the St. Lawrence County Housing Council) at 386-8576. A survey team from the St. Lawrence County Planning Office will contact these individuals to develop information on household composition, income levels, housing conditions, and so forth, to prepare an application that accurately reflects housing conditions in the Village of Norwood. All information will be kept confidential.

Attendance at the public hearings and a documented list of interested householders are key methods for demonstrating the existing need for housing rehabilitation assistance in the village.

The County Planning Office also invites all contractors interested in working with this proposed housing rehabilitation program to also contact the North Country Housing Council at 386-8576 if they are not yet on the Housing Council’s contractor list.

According to John F. Tenbusch, Planner II, “We want this housing rehabilitation project to benefit area contractors and businesses as well as the residents living in the housing units that receive assistance. Compiling a list of potential contractors now will help us to get off to a quick start if this grant is funded.”