City of Poughkeepsie Awarded $500,000 HUD Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Planning Grant

September 17, 2024 - The City of Poughkeepsie has been awarded a prestigious $500,000 Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, launching a comprehensive two-year planning process to transform the Northside neighborhood. The grant will support the development of a resident-driven Transformation Plan centered on three interconnected goals: Housing, Neighborhood, and People, with a focus on reimagining the future of Martin Luther King Jr. Garden Apartments and Thurgood Marshall Terrace.

The Poughkeepsie Children's Cabinet has been selected as a key partner in this transformative initiative, bringing expertise in community engagement, youth development, and cross-sector collaboration to support the planning process. The Cabinet's role includes coordinating the Community Ambassador program, facilitating resident engagement strategies, and ensuring that the voices of children, youth, and families remain central to the planning process. This partnership reflects the Cabinet's commitment to place-based approaches that address the interconnected needs of housing stability, educational opportunity, and economic mobility.

The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative represents a holistic approach to neighborhood revitalization, moving beyond traditional public housing redevelopment to address the full spectrum of community needs. Over the next two years, residents, community organizations, government agencies, and anchor institutions will work together to develop a comprehensive plan that not only envisions improved housing but also strengthens schools, expands economic opportunities, improves health outcomes, and builds community assets. The planning process will be guided by residents themselves, with Community Ambassadors serving as liaisons between their neighbors and the broader transformation effort.

Read the full announcement from the City of Poughkeepsie here.