Chemung County to seek $750,000 CDBG grant to renovate blighted housing

Chemung County opened and closed a public hearing on a proposed $750,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application to renovate blighted housing through the Chemung County Land Bank.

Allison Herman of the Chemung County Planning Department presented the county's plan to submit a Housing Activities application to the New York State Office of Community Renewal. Herman said the Housing Activities Grant is a CDBG funding stream administered with federal support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is intended to fund housing infrastructure and rehabilitation projects, especially for low- to moderate-income populations. The county intends to seek $750,000 to support the Land Bank's rehabilitation of blighted housing units located in Chemung County outside the city of Elmira.

Herman noted that the city of Elmira is an entitlement community and receives its own CDBG funds, so properties inside Elmira are not eligible to benefit from this competitive county application. She also said housing units rehabilitated with these funds would be purchased by income-qualified households.

No members of the public spoke during the hearing. The presiding official reminded attendees that public comments were limited to five minutes and that written comments would be accepted via mail or email. Written comments must be delivered to the Office of the Chemung County Legislature at the John H. Hazlett Building, Fifth Floor, 203 Lake Street, Elmira, NY 14901, or emailed to Allison Herman at aherman@chemungcountyny.gov. Written comments will be accepted through Aug. 28, 2025, at 6:55 p.m.

The hearing opened and closed on the record with no formal vote taken on the application; the presentation constituted notice of the county's intent to submit the competitive application.