$200,000 Will Help Refurbish Homes and Provide Neighborhood Improvements
Honeywell today contributed $200,000 to the Syracuse Neighborhood Initiative (SNI) Park Avenue revitalization program. The contribution will support efforts to preserve and revitalize homes in the Park Avenue community, finance a new home improvement grant program for Park Avenue homeowners, and fund projects designed to enhance the safety and appearance of the neighborhood. Through Home HeadQuarters, SNI is affiliated with Rebuilding Together, the nation’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing communities by refurbishing homes.
Honeywell’s longstanding commitment to support safe, secure and comfortable housing has led the company to work with Rebuilding Together nationwide on 76 revitalization projects involving more than 1,500 company employees working to rebuild homes and lives.
“Honeywell has been involved in housing programs all across the United States and in other parts of the world. The progress being made in Syracuse through the public-private partnership led by SNI, Congressman James Walsh and the City of Syracuse is nothing short of remarkable,” said Honeywell Director of Remediation Dave Wickersham. “Honeywell is proud to support SNI and the Park Avenue Neighborhood Association, and we hope these funds will give SNI and the neighborhood the flexibility to address community needs that normally do not meet traditional federal funding requirements. With SNI’s record of success, we know Honeywell’s contribution will be put to good use in Syracuse.”
For the last two years through Home HeadQuarters, SNI and Park Avenue neighborhood leaders have developed plans for increasing neighborhood safety, upgrading housing, assisting low income and fixed-income families in efforts to rehabilitate their homes, and improving the overall appearance of the neighborhood.
Congressman Walsh has secured $4.97 million in federal funding for SNI’s Phase VI program. Two and a half million dollars will go to housing and community redevelopment activities in the Park Avenue neighborhood from Sacred Heart Church to Plum Street.
“The Syracuse Neighborhood Initiative is making a difference in every corner of the city,” said Congressman Walsh. “SNI Phase VI will bring a new focus and new opportunities to the architecturally important Park Avenue neighborhood while providing the gap funding needed to make various neighborhood stabilization projects a reality in key areas across the city.”
Onondaga County Executive Nicholas Pirro acquired additional funding to support infrastructure improvements along Park Avenue sewer lines.
Home HeadQuarters, which will be administering the SNI programs for the Park Avenue neighborhood, has worked with Honeywell and neighborhood residents to help determine the most appropriate use of these private funds. “It’s been a privilege and a pleasure to incorporate Honeywell into designing programs and defining projects for this neighborhood,” said Kerry Quaglia, executive director for Home HeadQuarters. “Honeywell is showing its commitment to neighborhood revitalization and a dedication to community through its generous support.”
SNI through Home HeadQuarters works in concert with the City of Syracuse Department of Community Development, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, the Enterprise Foundation and existing community organizations to expand available housing resources, coordinate existing programs, and improve the quality of life in Syracuse neighborhoods.
Honeywell’s partnership with Rebuilding Together is part of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company’s community outreach initiative that focuses on three areas of vital importance: Family Safety and Security, Housing and Shelter, and Science and Math Education. Together with leading public and non-profit institutions, Honeywell has developed powerful programs to address these needs in its communities. Honeywell also partners with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to promote science and math education, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to promote child safety.
For more information, please visit our website at www.onondaga-lake-initiatives.com.