WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Kathy Castor announced today that the Tampa Housing Authority will receive more than $10.5 million through the Recovery Act to upgrade and renovate existing housing units. This funding will enable the housing authority to make critical capital improvements, such as repairing roofs, fixing windows, upgrading heating systems and painting while creating jobs.

“The construction industry has been particularly hard hit in this downturn, so it’s great that roofers, electricians, painters and carpenters will be needed and hired for this work,” Castor said. “It’s also critical that this money is going to improve the lives of so many of our neighbors by improving their homes. This will help the housing authorities alleviate the existing backlogs of needed repairs and upgrades.”

The Housing Authority of the City of St. Petersburg will receive about $1.3 million, and the Housing Authority of the City of Bradenton will receive about $632,000.

Tampa Housing Authority is committed to contracting with local businesses as well as hiring THA residents for some of the jobs.

“This allows us to improve the lives of folks living in public housing while putting people to work,” said Jerome Ryans, president and chief executive of the Tampa Housing Authority. “This funding will have a positive impact on our economy and our residents.”

The Recovery Act set aside $4 billion through the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide financial assistance to public housing authorities so they can make improvements to housing units.