EASTON — Blake-Blackston American Legion Post 77 will begin renovating and expanding its facility in Easton next year after it won town approval for a $250,000 state grant on Oct. 5.

The local veterans organization sought a recommendation from the town council for a Community Legacy Program grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. With the blessing, Post 77 is one step closer to securing the rest of the funds needed for the renovation project.

Councilman Elmer Davis voiced strong approval for the project.

“My father died in Vietnam,” he said. “I’m just so glad that you’re committed to enhancing the quality of life in the community. I support you 110%.”

Walter Black, the judge advocate and fundraising committee chairman for the post, said the building at 102 Glenwood Avenue was “built in 1900” and is outdated, but it’s still an important center in the community.

“This

SRPINGFIELD — The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority will receive $680,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation to reduce travel times and create greater access to jobs for rural residents in Western Massachusetts.

The money will fund a transit review and improvement planning study, the Department of Transportation said Wednesday. That would include recommendations for improved transit services and facilities, new routes, modern fare collection systems and integrating low or no-emission buses.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the PVTA was transporting more than 10 million passengers a year on a 2019 budget of $39 million. For several months this year it provided essential trips only, and has slowly returned to running portions of its former service.

PVTA operates in Hampden and Hampshire counties, with major hubs in Springfield’s Union Station, in Holyoke and in and around the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus.

The Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration announced Wednesday

“We were the recipient of a grant for Broussard Park that is now complete and open,” Tomball Public Works Director Beth Jones said. “We figure it’s time to tackle another project.”

On HoustonChronicle.com: Tomball, county celebrate opening of Broussard Park

The grant would go toward Matheson Park, one of the older parks in Tomball.

“It’s one of our parks in the middle of town and has some need for updating,” Jones said. “If we’re gonna pull it together we need to pull out all the stops.”

Jones said the city is conducting a survey to ask residents and local organizations like tennis and pickleball

As we rapidly approach the end of the construction season, the City is quickly working to wrap up a variety of infrastructure projects. We had a busy year executing infrastructure projects and approving additional work that will be completed over the next year and a half.

In the past few months alone, the City completed the $3 million Float Avenue infrastructure project, repaved Sunset Drive, Hurd Street, Boggess Street, as well as portions of Ottawa Avenue and Winneshiek Street. Anyone who has driven over Locust Avenue between Lincoln Boulevard and Pleasant Street will appreciate the much-needed repairs that were conducted in the past week. We are also in the middle of milling the street and overlaying Highland Drive in its entirety and are planning on road repair on portions of South Demeter Drive before the weather, and leaf pickup season, prohibits us from further infrastructure improvement projects.

In addition to

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The City of Port St. Lucie has opened applications for its COVID-19 Emergency Repair Grant Program.

The program, which will be administered in partnership with St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity, may provide up to 10,000 in home repair assistance to qualifying Port St. Lucie residents who have suffered hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re proud to partner with St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity to provide relief to Port St. Lucie residents during this difficult time,” said City Manager Russ Blackburn. “We hope that these small-dollar awards can help our community build resilience and preserve homeownership.”

Approximately 20 to 35 grants will be available depending on the types of repairs, from a total of $270,00 in money received through the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) administered by the Florida Housing Coalition.

“Having provided critical home repairs for 69 homeowners in need of assistance over the

To address the need for affordable, sustainable housing for working families, Manatee County Habitat for Humanity has partnered with Bank of America to construct a home for a deserving family. A $10,000 grant from Bank of America will support the completion of a new Bradenton home for aspiring nurse Jasmine Sittig, her daughter and son.

“We are committed to building safe, affordable homes that enrich our community,” said Diana Shoemaker, president and CEO of Manatee County Habitat for Humanity. “Our long-term partnership with Bank of America helps further our organization’s mission to create a world where everyone has a decent place to live.”

For 26 years, Manatee County Habitat for Humanity has built new homes for Habitat homebuyers and has provided critical home repairs for existing homeowners so they can stay safe and secure in their own homes and communities. As the coronavirus pandemic continues

PARAGOULD, Ark. (KAIT) – Downtown Paragould has been hustling and bustling with business and now $25,000 in grant money could help bring in more crowds, officials said Thursday.

© Provided by Jonesboro KAIT
$15,000 will be spent on downtown building improvements. $10,000 will go toward COVID relief.

The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program donated the grant money to be split in two ways – $15,000 will be spent on downtown building improvements while $10,000 will go toward COVID relief.

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Main Street Paragould Executive Director Gina Jarrett calls it Downtown Revitalization Money or DTR Money.

The DTR money will be put back on the street and help with painting, signage, and more.

The money going toward COVID will purchase reusable masks, hand sanitizing stations, and social distancing spots in stores.

She said these improvements are good timing for downtown before the Christmas shopping begins.

“There are benefits to being small.

Home Repair Services of Kent County and Amplify GR are reopening applications for home repair grants of up to $5,000 for eligible residents of southeast Grand Rapids.

The Neighborhood Strong Home Repair Grant program allows residents to make “critical repairs” to their homes at a fraction of the standard cost. Launched in April 2018, the program has provided more than $350,000 to more than 70 homeowners living in the residential neighborhoods of Boston Square and Cottage Grove.

“The Neighborhood Strong Home Repair Grant was developed to help alleviate the ever-rising cost of homeownership and maintenance, and we want to ensure homeowners are able to stay in their homes,” said Latesha Lipscomb, engagement and relationship manager at

Syracuse, N.Y. – Local officials today announced the expansion of grant and loan programs to help homeowners pay for repairs or renovations. The programs are administered by Home HeadQuarters, a nonprofit housing organization.

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Covid-19 emergency home repair grants: Bank of America is providing $100,000 to beef up this grant program, which provides income-eligible homeowners with up to $2,000 for emergency repairs such as replacing hot water tanks, repairing furnaces, and addressing other quality of life and safety issues. To qualify, you must have lost a job or substantial work hours because of the coronavirus pandemic. Home HeadQuarters said it already has more than 125 people on a waiting list.

Get more information here.

Solvay/Geddes home renovation loans: Homeowners throughout Geddes can now get loans of up to $25,000 for home renovations. The loans carry interest at 1% and are repayable over 10 years. They can be used for