ALBANY, NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) – New York Governor David Paterson announced on Friday that $2 million in funding was granted to the new Sustainable Neighborhoods Demonstration Program to revitalize upstate communities.

“This initiative will create new, affordable, high quality housing opportunities for families by rehabilitating vacant and abandoned buildings and making them available to renters and first-time homebuyers. The Sustainable Neighborhoods program will serve as a national model for turning these distressed properties into quality affordable housing, creating jobs and boosting the upstate economy,” said Governor Paterson.

The Sustainable Neighborhoods Demonstration Program uses State resources to combat the vacant housing crisis across upstate New York. This crisis inhibits future economic development, discourages homeownership and in-migration and perpetuates the perception that the region’s urban areas are in a downward spiral.

Local governments, municipal housing authorities and non-profit organizations can apply for funding through the State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) and the New York State Housing Finance Agency (HFA) for the rehabilitation of vacant or blighted residential properties.