Contact: Mildred Powell
Phone: 336-373-3624

City Receives $3.1 Million Grant for Lead-Based Paint Program

GREENSBORO, NC (February 16, 2011) – The City of Greensboro has received a $3.1 million grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to continue funding its Lead Safe Housing Program. The grant assists the City’s efforts to protect children in low-income households from lead-based paint and other public health and safety hazards.

“Keeping the families of our community safe and healthy is a top priority to the City of Greensboro,” says Mayor William H. Knight. “We’re appreciative of HUD’s generous and continued commitment to our efforts to reduce and eliminate lead-based paint and other health and safety threats in our city.” 

The grant was part of nearly $127 million in grants awarded by HUD to 48 projects nationally. The City and the NC Department of Energy and Natural Resources were the only two entities in North Carolina to receive the grants.

Lead-based paint hazards, typically found in homes built before 1978, can cause health and learning problems for young children, especially those under the age of six. To combat the issue locally, the City started its Lead Safe Housing Program in 2002. Since that time, the Planning and Community Development Department has tested and treated lead hazards in more than 600 homes in the community. 

The City will use the HUD grant for:
    • Testing and remediation of lead-based paint hazards in privately owned low-income homes and rental properties
    • Community education and outreach
    • Job training for lead hazard control workers
    • Collecting and analyzing data to measure program success.

A comprehensive, community-based plan, Greensboro’s Lead Safe Housing Program identifies and controls lead-based paint hazards in eligible homes. The focus of the program is to prevent the incidence of childhood lead poisoning by promoting public awareness and creating healthy living conditions for children. 

For more information, contact Mildred Powell, the City’s Lead Safe Housing Program administrator, at 336-373-3624. Also, visit the program’s website at www.greensboro-nc.gov/LeadSafe. 

 #  #  #

The City works with the community to improve the quality of life for residents through inclusion, diversity, and trust. As the seventh largest employer in Greensboro, the City has a professional staff of 2,800 employees who maintain the values of honesty, integrity, stewardship, and respect. The City is governed by a council-manager form of government with a mayor and eight council members. For more information on the City, visit www.greensboro-nc.gov or call 373-CITY (2489).