Funds enable housing upgrades

    PRESQUE ISLE — Congressman Mike Michaud recently announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is awarding the Presque Isle Housing Authority $310,000 to create more energy-efficient public housing units. The funding is slated to go to Pleasant Hill Manor for the installation of high-efficiency boilers, low-flow flushers and solar-evacuated tubes for hot water and heating purposes.     “I am pleased that this funding was approved for the Presque Isle Housing Authority,” said Michaud. “This funding will allow for the renovation of affordable housing units in order to achieve energy savings and long-term cost reductions. This project will not only improve the facilities and save money, but it should also help create jobs in the area.”
    The funding announced Sept. 23, was made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1).  Nationwide, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $500 million in competitive grants that will allow public housing authorities across the U.S. to build or renovate affordable rental apartments and make existing public housing units more energy-efficient.