NEWPORT NEWS — This city was named a finalist for federal grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Development.
Newport News along with five other cities were chosen by the federal agency to qualify for up to $30 million in federal aid to help distressed public and/ or assisted housing areas, according to a news release from the city.
“In Newport News, the target area is the Marshall-Ridley neighborhood in the Southeast Community, which includes Ridley Place public housing and an expanded area around the complex,” states the release. “As part of the application review process, a (U.S. Housing and Development) team will visit Newport News next month to tour the area, better understand the transformation plan, and assess the city and housing authority’s ability to implement the plan.”
The grant will help localities build neighborhoods of opportunity and choice, according to the release.
Ridley Place was built in 1954 and has 259 units, according to the Newport News Choice Neighborhood website.
Other cities being considered include Flint (Mich.), Phoenix (Ariz.), Shreveport (La.), Baltimore (Md.) and Tulsa (Okla.). The U.S. Department of Housing and Development will make its decisions on how to disseminate the funds in July, according to the release.
