HUD pumps $199M into region for flood relief

Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties will be the primary recipients of $199.3 million in federal flood relief.
The counties were among the hardest hit by last September’s floods.
The award bring to $262.1 million the total that the U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency has provided the state since last December, when it provided $62.8 million in flood recovery money.

“After visiting Lyons and Evans in December I promised HUD would do more to help the state recover,” HUD’s secretary Shaun Donovan said in a statement. “This additional money will fund a local vision to rebuild homes and businesses, repair badly damaged roads and bridges, and spur economic development. While we can never truly replace all that was lost, I remain committed to helping Colorado rebuild more resilient and better prepared for future storms.”

“This week marks six months since the flooding began,´ said Gov. John Hickenlooper. “From the beginning, HUD and our federal partners have been instrumental in investing in Colorado’s recovery. This second round of CDBG-DR funds is critical for families, businesses and economic development in the flood-impacted communities. We know we will never make whole those impacted by the floods, but these funds can help us build back sustainable, resilient communities for Colorado’s future.”

According to the state, 80 percent of the funds announced Friday will go to Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties. Some 2,800 homes were severely damaged in this area. Any money remaining can be used to help areas hit hard by other disasters in the past three years, primarily wildfires.