On August 2, Department of Community and Economic Development Deputy Secretary of Community Affairs and Development Rick Vilello was joined by elected officials, community leaders, and others in Bloomsburg, Columbia County, to highlight the state’s investment in the Silk Mill Apartments as part of flood recovery initiatives.

“When DCED provided funding for Silk Mill in 2017, it was the only project of its kind in Bloomsburg,” said Deputy Secretary Vilello. “The site created a space for residents while also giving those living in the apartments opportunities to participate in educational, recreational, and fitness programs. Silk Mill promotes a healthy and vibrant community and is a wonderful addition to the town.”

Silk Mill Apartments was constructed on vacant land at 250 West 6th Street, previously occupied by the Bloomsburg Silk Mill.

The site was developed following the destruction of hundreds of homes during historic flooding from Tropical Storm Lee in 2011.

The new complex is protected from the threat of future floods.

The apartment complex includes 64 units with 33 of them for low- to moderate-income individuals. The remaining 31 units are available for market rate with no age restrictions to promote a mixed income and mixed age community.

“Columbia County was one of the five hardest hit counties in Pennsylvania during the 2011 flooding, costing the town of Bloomsburg a lot of homes that could not easily be replaced due to few land options capable of supporting new development,” said Rich Kisner, Executive Director, Community Strategies Group. “CDBG-DR funding allowed us to build a one-of-a-kind, mixed-income, high-density facility that provided 64 new housing units on in a relatively small footprint.”

DCED provided $5 million in funding towards this project through the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program.

Grants from CDBG-DR were provided to federally designated disaster areas impacted by Tropical Storm Lee and Hurricane Irene to assist with housing rehabilitation, homebuyer assistance, housing development and other housing-related activities, infrastructure improvements, economic development and planning, and technical assistance activities.

Click Here for more information on the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program.

Related Article:

-- Pennsylvania: It Will Flood Here: Are You Prepared?  Get Flood Insurance Now!  [PaEN]

[Posted: August 2, 2022]

8/8/2022