Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet announced today that Colorado will receive $8,684,648 in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to boost critical programs and services for communities hit hard by the economic crisis. The funding is part of a $1 billion effort to bolster the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program in states across the country.
“Helping Colorado families get the assistance they need, benefits us all and pushes our country forward again,” said Udall. “These investments will help the communities that need it the most.”
“In these tough economic times, working families need help now more than ever,” said Bennet. “These funds will provide community organizations with the resources they need to help struggling American families weather the recession and get back on their feet.”
Under the Recovery Act, organizations receiving CSBG funding must use the resources to help get our economy back on track. Funds must be used to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and assist low-income families become self-sufficient. Eligible entities use funds to provide services and activities addressing employment, education, housing, nutrition, and emergency services to combat the central causes of poverty.
Services currently provided by community organizations that receive CSBG funds include:
- Job training and placement assistance.
- Financial literacy programs such as credit counseling.
- Housing assistance programs that help keep Americans in their homes.
- Nutrition programs that provide meals for vulnerable families.
- Community agencies that bring public and private resources together to assist families in need.
More information about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is available at recovery.gov or at colorado.gov/recovery.