DISCUSSION — Jefferson Metropolitan Housing Authority Director Melody McClurg told council the federal government dusted off its Choice Neighborhood grant program, allowing eligible distressed communities to apply for up to $26 million in grant money. -- Linda Harris

STEUBENVILLE — In limbo for the past year, a federally funded grant program with the potential to pump millions into the city’s North End community has been resurrected.

Jefferson Metropolitan Housing Authority Director Melody McClurg said Tuesday the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Administration is ready to proceed with its Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant program, albeit with some adjustments — one of the biggest being that to be eligible, there has to be buy-in from local governments as well as their housing authorities.

Funds are meant to improve public housing in “severely distressed” neighborhoods — in Steubenville, that means the North End community.

The total grant pool is estimated at $75 million. Only communities awarded Choice planning grants in 2023 or earlier can apply for grants, which are capped at $26 million each.

McClurg said applications are due March 9, so the turnaround time is short — particularly since the original plans envisioned 446 new housing units with a $122 million overall price tag; with lesser grant amounts on the table, she said they’ll have to “redo the entire housing plan.” Their grant consultant has already blocked out a full day for that so they can make necessary adjustments and get it over to the city so the grant writers can get to work.

Grant awards are expected to be announced in August.

“There was a time … that we did not know if the program would be funded, so we were ecstatic when this opportunity opened,” McClurg said after the meeting. “There will only be four awards across the nation, so it is highly competitive. We’re going to give (it) our best effort to give the residents of Steubenville this chance.”

Councilman Ted Gorman told council it’s their chance to back up talk with action.

“We have an opportunity here as a city to get $26 million to revitalize the north end of our town,” he said. “It baffles my mind, a $26 million grant — and all they want is our support.

Gorman says it’s an opportunity for them to “get back in the game.”

“Our goal all along has been economic development, to improve our city. It’s what our constituents want us to do — I think we should throw our support to it; it’s a fantastic project.”

Councilman Royal Mayo agreed, pointing out they’ve funded projects in the past that don’t have the transformational impact a housing upgrade would have.

Before voting, Councilman Tracy McManamon asked McClur how likely it is they’ll be hit with unexpected cost add-ons, but later pointed out he actually supports the project wholeheartedly.

The vote was 7-0 in favor of partnering with JMHA.