For Release: Immediately
Contact: Marilyn Appleby, Communications Director, 706.425.5300
Email: mappleby@athenshousing.org

Stimulus Package for Athens Housing Authority

The Athens Housing Authority will receive $2 million in economic stimulus funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The recently announced program is an effort to jumpstart the nation and local our economies and to help create or sustain jobs.

ARRA funds must be used for capital fund construction projects that will be “shovel ready” in a short period of time. The Athens Housing Authority is anticipating the ARRA funds shortly after the annual agency plan is approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in June.

“We must obligate the funds to construction projects that can be started within a short time of receiving the money,” Athens Housing Authority Rick Parker said. “We already had several projects planned for the next two to three years and the ARRA funds will allow us to begin the work earlier than we had anticipated.”

The funds will be used to completely modernize the interiors of about 75 housing units; replace the elevator system at Denney Tower, a senior citizen hi-rise; replace roofs and windows at about 75 housing units;; and, replace plumbing fixtures in approximately 250 housing units.

Each year, the Athens Housing Authority receives about $2 million in capital funds from HUD. The funds aid with major renovation and modernization work at the 11 public housing neighborhoods in Athens.