$747,000 HUD grant for Newark
By John Zornow

Village Clerk/Treasurer Michael Tonovitz announced late last week that the village of Newark has been awarded a total of $747,000 in HUD Grants.

Tonovitz and Village Trustee Norm VanDemortel attended ceremonies in Lockport last Thursday. A total of $172 million was provided to municipalities and private entities along New York's Canal Corridor, by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Stressing that the money awarded to Newark is in the form of grants, not loans, Tonovitz indicated that two areas in Newark will be targeted.

West Union Street rehabilitation

$347,000 of the grant money will be used to offer rehab to 21 housing units on West Union Street. During the winter months, a survey was done by Chuck Ackerman and Linda Baker of the Code Enforcement Office. The survey identified the area in the village that needed the most help and which will benefit the most in visual impact.

First-time homebuyer program

This idea resulted from a C.E.O. forum conducted by Stu Flavin of the Community Development Office. Local industries backed this plan, which will encourge employees to buy homes in the village. $400,000 of the grant money will be used to help with down payments and closing costs, while local banks have pledged up to $1,500,000 for mortgages to complement the program.

Implementation of the programs will take two to three months, according to Tonovitz, who is pictured here with Ackerman and Baker.

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