The North Adams Housing Authority will receive $686,580 in federal Public Housing Capital Funds to make improvements to its properties.

iBerkshires.com reports Executive Director Jennifer Hohn announced Thursday that the award will increase $236,679 from last year and will allow the expediting of some needed improvements.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has released $2.6 billion throughout the country that will provide funding to approximately 3,100 public housing authorities to build, repair and modernize public housing in their communities.

Hohn noted that $32,694.49 of this increase was given to the Housing Authority as a bonus because it is such a high performer.

Although the Housing Authority may be receiving this increase, Hohn announced at Monday's meeting that she cannot find a funding source for the proposed Greylock Community Center Project at the Greylock Valley Apartments.

In other business, Hohn said the city needs to continue testing the former Sun Cleaners property at 111 River St.

The Housing Authority board has been trying to dissolve Housing Opportunities Inc. for the past six years and 111 River St. is the last property it must transfer to the city before it can officially disband the program created to help first-time homeowners.

The city is hesitant to accept the former dry cleaners because of possible contamination. It accepted several other properties and the HOI account, which would be used to fund the remediation 111 River if necessary.
The testing procedure needs to take place over three months.

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