Rep. Watson Coleman Announces Grant to Rebuild Trenton’s Donnelly Homes

Washington, D.C. (September 19, 2019) – Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, announced that the City of Trenton had received a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant will fund the creation of a transformation plan for Donnelly Homes, the largest public housing development in Trenton, and the surrounding neighborhood.

“As some of the oldest public housing units in Trenton, the Donnelly Homes are in desperate need of an upgrade. The funds available through this grant can be used to fully transform the Donnelly Homes site in the way the community feels will meet its needs. The product of this effort will no doubt breathe new life into Trenton’s North Ward. I can’t wait to see the future the people of Trenton decide upon,” said Watson Coleman.

“We need to, first off, thank our Federal Delegation for keeping the Capital City in line for grants like these,” said Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora. “Being granted $1.3 million is nothing short of a win for our community, and our constituency. We look forward to using these funds to continue transforming our City for the better.”

Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants support the development of comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans. Communities must develop and implement a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy, or Transformation Plan. The Choice Neighborhoods program is designed to achieve three core goals with each of it’s projects: replacing distressed public and assisted housing with high-quality mixed-income housing responsive to the surrounding neighborhood’s needs; improving income, health and youth education outcomes of households living in the target housing; and creating the ideal conditions for public and private reinvestment in distressed neighborhoods.

After completing the planning process, Trenton can apply for a Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant to begin the work of updating the city’s housing.

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