Major Boost: HUD Awards $50 Million Housing Grant to Wilmington Housing Authority and City of Wilmington

In a groundbreaking announcement, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has bestowed the prestigious $50 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant (CHOICE) upon the Wilmington Housing Authority (WHA) and the City of Wilmington. This momentous grant marks the beginning of an ambitious eight-year community revitalization plan for Northeast Wilmington, bringing together various key players in collaboration. The project will be carried out in partnership with the City of Wilmington, the Housing Authority of Wilmington, REACH Riverside Development Corporation (REACH), Kingswood Community Center, and Pennrose LLC.

CHOICE is the crown jewel among HUD's grant programs, offering vital support to communities in realizing their neighborhood redevelopment visions. With this remarkable award, Wilmington's housing and infrastructure will receive the largest investment in decades. The funding from this grant will be dedicated to the construction of over 550 new mixed-level income rental homes, igniting transformative change in the Imani Village community.

Ray Fitzgerald, Executive Director of WHA, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the community, political leaders, staff, and all those who rallied behind their cause to secure this grant. He emphasized that the CHOICE grant allows them to accelerate the Riverside development, accomplishing in eight years what would have originally taken more than two decades. The entire Northeast community is poised to reap the immense benefits of this visionary project, and the excitement to commence work is palpable.

Mayor Mike Purzycki reminisced about the roots of this endeavor, which began a decade ago with a visit to the country's first Purpose Built Community in Atlanta. The transformative impact of that initiative left an indelible impression on Wilmington's leaders, fueling their determination to bring a similar program to their own city. The Riverside project, encompassing housing, education, community wellness, and community leadership, has already achieved remarkable progress in just a few years. With HUD's support, Wilmington is poised to build on these early successes, continuing to reimagine communities and positively transform lives.

The journey to secure this grant has been a result of four years of meticulous planning, driven by the active participation of residents, community, and business organizations. A key component of the grant will be the expansion of the Kingswood Community Center's EMPOWER Program, a vital initiative that offers supportive services such as workforce development and financial literacy. These services will significantly enhance the quality of life for residents and further elevate the project's impact on the community.

Logan Herring, CEO of The WRK Group, an integral part of this transformative endeavor, emphasized the historical significance of this investment in a community that has often been overlooked. Through collaboration with WHA, the City of Wilmington, Pennrose Properties, and the immense support from HUD's Choice Neighborhood Implementation grant, The WRK Group is determined to effect change in the Northeast Wilmington community. The new community will boast beautiful and affordable homes, economic development opportunities, green spaces for families to flourish, and robust educational and workforce development pipelines.

In conclusion, the $50 million CHOICE grant represents a beacon of hope and opportunity for Wilmington's Northeast community. It marks the beginning of an exciting transformation journey that will redefine the landscape, uplift lives, and create a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving neighborhood. The visionary partnership between WHA, the City of Wilmington, and other dedicated stakeholders, bolstered by HUD's steadfast support, underscores the power of collective action in fostering positive change and building stronger communities.