PLATTSBURGH -- North Country housing projects are receiving more than $9.3 million in state funding.

Gov. David Paterson said the $137 million from the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal will be used to build and rehabilitate 6,415 units of affordable housing throughout the state.

"These awards will help developers leverage an additional $340 million in funding from federal, local and private sources, maximizing the positive impact of our investment," he said in a news release.

"The importance of affordable housing cannot be overstated. It encourages businesses to invest in our state and create jobs. It helps to revitalize communities and downtown neighborhoods and provides a stable and safe environment for working families, senior citizens and people living with disabilities."

CATHERINE GARDENS

The bulk of the local funding went to the Catherine Gardens project in the City of Plattsburgh, which received more than $7.6 million.

That includes tax credits expected to generate $5.2 million in equity funding, $1.4 million from the State Housing Trust Fund, $620,000 from the federal Low-Income Housing Credit Program and $100,000 from the Rural Area Revitalization Projects Program.

Catherine Gardens is being developed by the Senior Citizens Council of Clinton County and Affordable Housing Unlimited. The latter is the entity that will purchase the tax credits.

Senior Citizens Council Executive Director Kathleen Hazel said she was excited when she received word of the funding Tuesday morning. It will be used to build 31 units of affordable housing at the former Seton Catholic property.

She is hopeful work will begin within six weeks.

"Once you get the announcement, everything happens pretty fast."

The project also received $896,000 in Restore NY funding in January, Hazel noted.

TOWN OF PLATTSBURGH

The Town of Plattsburgh received $300,000 in New York HOME Program funding for its Home Improvement Program.

Town Supervisor Bernie Bassett said the money will be used to reimburse local contractors who are hired to help income-eligible town residents weatherize or install more-efficient heating systems.