Community groups urge Lackawanna to use CDBG for centers, programs — not just paving

Residents and community-organizing representatives addressed the Lackawanna City Council to press for broader uses of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds than the historically predominant street and sidewalk projects.

Alex Andrezejewski, who said he works with the Lackawanna Community Development Corporation and the Lackawanna Housing Development Corporation, told the council that "65 projects that have occurred since that time... 48 of those grants received have been used for paving, reconstruction, milling, sidewalk, or road related projects." He asked whether the upcoming grant cycle could prioritize community centers, recreation space, building renovations and ADA compliance projects rather than primarily infrastructure work.

Franchesca Kidney, speaking for Buffalo Clinical Lab and Drug Testing Center, said the lab would qualify under public-services and public-health categories and asked whether late notice on the hearing had foreclosed their opportunity to request funds. City staff suggested the lab pursue county storefront and restoration grants and recommended a meeting with administration to discuss eligibility and needs.

Council members repeatedly said they were open to community input but noted that the mayor’s office had proposed senior-center upgrades as a first priority on the application to the county committee. Several council members emphasized that the council's approval to submit the application did not itself appropriate funds and that specific appropriations would require a later council vote.