County to hold hearings on block grants

The St. Lawrence County Planning Office will hold public hearings this month and next on applications for funding under the federal Community Development Block Grant program.

Funding is used for community and economic development and housing improvement.

The hearings will be used to gather information about community needs and priorities and to propose projects before the application is submitted. The 1 p.m. hearings will be Feb. 18 and March 16 at the County Courthouse, Canton.

The Planning Office is also preparing a CDBG application on behalf of the town of Brasher and the village of Canton. The first public hearing on Brasher's application was Wednesday. The next is at 4:30 p.m. March 10 at the Brasher Falls Municipal Building.

Low- and moderate-income town residents who need home repairs should call Town Clerk Ellen M. Fukes at 389-4223 to request an interview.

Public hearings for Canton's application are at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 and March 15 in the basement courtroom of the Municipal Building, 90 Main St. Low- and moderate-income village residents who need home repairs should call the Planning Office at 379-2292. A survey team will contact residents to gather information so that housing conditions and needs are accurately reflected in the application.

Planning officials are also encouraging contractors who want to work on housing rehabilitation projects to contact their office.