Mayor Bloomberg on Wednesday announced that city homeowners can soon apply for grants to fix their properties.
The first installment will amount to nearly $1.8 billion in block grants, which needs federal government approval, and will be funded by the city’s share of the more than $50 billion, multistate Sandy recovery package Congress approved last month.
But the first chunk “is real money, and it’s really going to make a big difference in our city,” the Mayor said.
City officials are optimistic about getting the federal Housing and Urban Development Department’s approval and hope to have the programs started by late April or early May.
Once they’re approved, the city will announce how to apply.