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Chautauqua County accepts HUD lead-hazard grant worth more than $5 million
Summary
County health officials told the Human Services Committee that a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant of over $5 million will fund lead-hazard remediation across Chautauqua County from Jan. 15, 2025, through January 2029; about 85% of the award is for direct remediation and roughly 15% for administration, officials said.
Chautauqua County’s Human Services Committee voted to accept a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) lead hazard reduction grant totaling “over $5,000,000,” Jessica Wersley, Chautauqua County environmental health director, said during the Feb. 19 meeting.
Wersley said the award will run from Jan. 15, 2025, into January 2029 and that “over 85% of the budget is to provide lead hazard remediation,” with the remainder for administrative costs and workforce development. Anna Powell, the childhood lead-poisoning coordinator, said the funds will be used to hire and reimburse contractors, replace windows and doors and make other permanent fixes in affected homes.
The county will partner with Chautauqua Opportunities to bid remediation projects to approved contractors. Wersley said the program will fund contractor certification and training costs to boost the local abatement workforce.
Wersley and Powell said the grant targets countywide work but noted most children with elevated blood-lead levels have been identified in ZIP code 14701. Eligibility for remediation is based on HUD income thresholds; Wersley said the grant requires a share of families be below 50% of area median income and the program can serve households up to 80% of area median income, with thresholds varying by household size.
County staff said landlords must participate in the application process, submit insurance and be current on property taxes; properties receiving remediation will have a three-year lien requiring retention or repayment if sold. The county also requires out-of-state owners to have an RRP-certified property manager or obtain RRP certification themselves to ensure ongoing lead-safe maintenance.
Committee members asked about speed of response when a child’s test shows elevated lead. Wersley said the state reporting system notifies the county when a child tests high and that staff provide interim controls, care coordination and expedited remediation once properties are qualified.
The committee approved the resolution; a roll-call vote was not recorded in the meeting transcript and the clerk recorded the outcome as approved.
