the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $56.5 million to 77 Native American communities throughout the country to improve housing conditions and stimulate community development for residents, including funding construction projects and local jobs. The grants are part of HUD’s Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Program, which supports a wide range of community development and affordable housing activities. See a list of award winners below, and read individual project summaries here.

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $119,230 in federal funding for infrastructure projects at the Randall Airport operated by the Aerodrome Development Corporation. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Program. The Randall Airport will use the funding to purchase .247 acres of land needed for future airport development, and to rehabilitate over 8,700 square yards of the existing apron to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $2,808,000 in federal funding for the Griffiss International Airport located in Rome. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This federal funding will enable the airport to construct a snow removal equipment building, so it can safely and efficiently store the tools that will allow it to keep runways and taxiways clear during all months of the year

The awards, made following a Request for Proposals issued in June, will support the ongoing service and operating expenses of supportive housing projects. This funding will be made available to supportive housing providers under five-year contracts which are renewable at the end of their term. New York State Homes and Community Renewal and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance will work with supportive housing providers who have received these conditional contract awards to secure the capital funding needed to complete supportive housing projects. These awards represent a major step forward in the Governor’s unprecedented $2.6 billion, five-year plan to construct 6,000 new supportive housing units across New York State

The August 2016 Survey of Consumer Expectations shows an increase in both short-term and medium-term inflation expectations. In particular, the median year-ahead inflation expectations reached its highest level of the year. Median expected household income growth also increased (for the third month in a row) to its highest level since May of 2015. Labor market expectations were mixed: Expectations about finding a job and earnings growth both improved, but the perceived probability of losing a job and expectations about the unemployment rate both increased slightly.

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, delivered the following remarks on the House Floor opposing Republican legislation that eliminates critical public interest protections when the government enters into a settlement agreement with corporate wrongdoers.

Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded federal grant money to Westchester Community Opportunity Program, Inc. (WestCOP) under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program to help low-income veteran families get and keep their own homes. The total allocation of $1,935,797 to WestCOP, which operates throughout the Lower Hudson Valley, will help hundreds of low-income veteran families in Yonkers, Mt. Vernon, and New Rochelle who are permanently housed or transitioning to permanent housing.

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $14,074,580 in federal funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for seven organizations in New York City and Long Island that provide services to low-income, at-risk Veterans and their families. The grants are being provided under the VA’s Support Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) program, which helps Veteran families around the nation who are permanently housed or transitioning to permanent housing. The SSVF grant program provides access to crucial services to prevent homelessness for Veterans and their families

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $14,074,580 in federal funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for seven organizations in New York City and Long Island that provide services to low-income, at-risk Veterans and their families. The grants are being provided under the VA’s Support Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) program, which helps Veteran families around the nation who are permanently housed or transitioning to permanent housing. The SSVF grant program provides access to crucial services to prevent homelessness for Veterans and their families

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a settlement with real estate developers Jeshayahu Boymelgreen, Itzhak Katan, and Domenick Tonacchio and several of their entities. The settlement ends the Attorney General’s investigation of potential Martin Act violations at six condominiums in Manhattan and Brooklyn that were developed by Boymelgreen either in partnership with others or on his own. The agreement also bars Boymelgreen from participating in the offer or sale of securities, including condominiums, in or from New York State for a period of two years

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced the High Tech of Rochester (HTR) will receive $2.6 million in federal funding through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to construct its new Business Accelerator. HTR plans to build the Accelerator on the sixth floor of the recently redeveloped Sibley Building in downtown Rochester. In June, Schumer – in a letter and a personal phone call to the head of EDA, Assistant Secretary of Commerce Jay Williams – urged the federal agency to expeditiously approve this funding, citing that the new business incubator would complete the Sibley Building’s renovation by providing a crucial engine for job creation.

Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, along with NYS Assemblymember Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) and NYC Council Member Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria), were joined by local residents at a press conference to denounce Amtrak’s exorbitant rent increase for homeowners who live adjacent to the trusses of the Hell Gate Bridge, which is operated by the agency.

As part of its ongoing efforts to foster homeownership opportunities and community involvement throughout the state, the New York State Association of REALTORS® is partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk County to build a home for a deserving family. Bahamas Real Estate

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that on August 12, 2016 an order was issued by Dutchess County Supreme Court Judge Peter Forman requiring home improvement contractor Daniel McInerney, doing business as D Mac Design & Development LLC., to pay $41,412.16 in restitution to four homeowners who were victims of his home improvement fraud, $15,000 in penalties and $2,000 in costs to the New York State Attorney General’s Office. In many cases, consumers paid McInerney thousands of dollars only to have him disappear with their money without providing any of the contracted services

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $313,200 in federal funding for infrastructure projects at Dutchess County Airport. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Program. The Dutchess County Airport will use the funding to begin two phase one design projects. Specifically, the airport will design the replacement of a 3,675 square foot snow removal equipment building and the replacement of a 6,725 square foot aircraft rescue and firefighting building to assist the airport in meeting safety requirements of 14 CFR Part 139 and protect ARFF equipment from adverse weather conditions.

Congressman Brian Higgins will join with the Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope (NOAH), Laborers’ Local 91, Iron Workers’ Local 9, Catholic Charities of Buffalo and the City of Niagara Falls at 12:45 pm on Friday, August 19th to announce an innovative Pre-Apprenticeship Program. The announcement will occur at the Laborer’s Local 91 Union Hall, located at 4500 Witmer Industrial Estates Road in Niagara Falls.

With 11,736 closed home sales across the Empire state in July, the housing market remained strong despite lagging behind the July 2015 total, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS®. The statewide median sales price increased by 8.1 percent compared July 2015.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that Samantha Grover, 36, a Certified Nurse Aide, pled guilty in Onondaga County Court before the Honorable Anthony F. Aloi to Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person in the First Degree

"This is an increasingly common story that goes to the heart of the on-going fight across Manhattan to preserve historic buildings, not only for the sake of neighborhood character, but also because they often contain affordable, rent-regulated units."

Representative Sean Patrick Maloney, member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced that he has secured a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investment of over $300,000 for Dutchess County Airport. This federal investment of $313,200 will be used to replace an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) building and a snow removal building. Both structures protect critical safety equipment from adverse weather conditions, and allow the airport to comply with federal aviation safety requirements.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced a new pilot program that will provide New York State land banks with $4 million in subsidies for everyday New Yorkers to take over individual, abandoned properties in their neighborhood – at little or no cost – and rehabilitate them into affordable rental housing. Created with affordable housing and community development nonprofit Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise), the program requires the new housing units to remain affordable for at least 20 years

The New York Power Authority today announced it has expanded its program to help municipal utilities green their vehicle fleets after Fairport Electric bought a plug-in hybrid bucket truck and passenger vehicle

Mayor Paul Dyster joined Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development representatives, city officials and community members to break ground on a new playground at Hyde Park. The project will replace an outdated, existing facility and will be relocated within Hyde Park, off of Robbins Drive, in proximity to the Robbins Drive parking lot. Consistent with Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles, the playground is centrally located, in order to be easily accessible to all Niagara Falls residents

This morning, Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), elected officials, and several of New York City’s Commissioners announced Roadmap for Action, a plan to revitalize Downtown Far Rockaway. In addition to providing $91 million to revitalize Downtown Far Rockaway—the most significant investment in the Rockaways in decades—the Roadmap for Action updates zoning, encourages mixed-income housing, improves transportation infrastructure, and connects small businesses to local jobs. Regarding this announcement, Congressman Gregory W. Meeks issued the following statement