WASHINGTON DC - U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced $15.1 million in federal grants for 25 communities in Rhode Island. The grants are awarded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Public Housing Capitol Fund Program.

"This federal funding is a smart investment in Rhode Island that will help revitalize aging housing units throughout the state and put more contractors, plumbers, and electricians to work making needed repairs," said Reed, a senior member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. "I am pleased to have helped secure this funding to promote economic development and rehab affordable housing units for low-income families and seniors across the state."

The money funds Public Housing Agencies for capital management activities, including modernization and development of public housing. Local agencies plan to use the funding for a broad array of improvements, from engineering reviews, to the replacement of roofs and windows, to the repair of parking lots and indoor stairwells.

Public housing is a national asset, serving 3 million low-income, disabled, senior citizens and families while stabilizing neighborhoods throughout America. There are over 9,900 public housing units in Rhode Island.

Last April, Senator Reed, who also serves on the Appropriations Committee, and sixteen of his colleagues requested this level of funding for the Fiscal Year 2011 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill.

Public Housing Agencies in the following cities and towns will receive funding:

Bristol: $234,803

Burrillville: $112,294

Central Falls: $406,590

Coventry: $247,814

Cranston: $809,617

Cumberland: $193,482

East Greenwich: $43,313

East Providence: $574,904

Jamestown: $38,323

Johnston: $215,971

Lincoln: $311,689

Narragansett: $18,617

Newport: $2,120,781

North Providence: $157,561

Pawtucket: $1,712,303

Portsmouth: $47,681

Providence: $4,137,062

Smithfield: $64,356

South Kingston: $135,484

Tiverton: $57,002

Warren: $180,442

Warwick: $579,488

West Warwick: $279,248

Westerly: $153,928

Woonsocket: $2,316,943

TOTAL: $15,149,696