County housing staff reported several active programs and local project updates, and urged more regional coalitions to coordinate housing efforts.
Staff said the vacant rental improvement program (BRIP) is still accepting applications and that the county had about half a dozen applicants from Columbia County. BRIP funds convert vacant properties into rental units (capped at five units per property) that must rent to households at either 60% or 80% of area median income depending on the grant award. A second round of state funding is open but current BRIP participants are not eligible for this round, staff said.
An ADU grant program will open a further round; the county has participated in prior rounds and most municipalities in the county will have access to the upcoming round. The state also restored full funding for land banks (noted as $50,000,000 statewide) and has a new, unreleased $10,000,000 “starter home” program for communities outside New York City; details and application rules were not yet available.
Staff reported ongoing local projects under discussion: a revived Redburn project in Greenport (smaller building plan under review) and the JL Edwards school site, for which staff said the developer asked CDC to submit a pro‑housing infrastructure grant application. The transcript noted that only three applicant types are eligible for that state grant (a municipality, IDA, or local development corporation) and that the city may act as lead applicant if the council authorizes it.
Staff encouraged coalitions of nearby towns to coordinate housing work and suggested a Columbia County virtual housing forum later this year. No formal board votes were taken on these housing programs at the meeting.