Some of Ogden's poorest multifamily housing will receive extra protection from local police and the Weber County District Attorney's Office, thanks to a federal grant.
As part of a federal campaign to eliminate illegal drug use and related crime in public housing, an Ogden developer received nearly $250,000 in federal aid earmarked for nine government-assisted housing properties in east-central Ogden.
The city's share is part of $27 million in grants given nationally to owners and operators of government and nonprofit subsidized multifamily housing.
"These grants will help protect some of our poorest and most vulnerable families from being terrorized by drug dealers and gangs, and will save lives," U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo said in a statement released Tuesday.
According to HUD, the grants will provide funds to reimburse law enforcement agencies for assigning extra officers to patrol housing developments, allow for the hiring of private security guards and provide money to enhance housing security by improving fences, lighting and locks.
Julie Fagan, state coordinator for HUD, said Ogden's Danville Development Corp. was the only Utah company to apply for the coveted national grant.
"It is a very competitive grant, and we were very happy that they received it; $27 million is not a lot of money, so that's why it's very competitive," she said. "We were very fortunate to have something to be awarded in state."
Nationally, Utah received the fourth-lowest total of the 32 states that were awarded any money.
Danville will use the $241,600 to create a committee made up of representatives from the Weber County District Attorney's Office, the Ogden Police Department, neighborhood residents, local businesses and community agencies to determine what specific remedies are needed on the properties.
E-mail: bsnyder@desnews.com