Genesee Valley Rural Preservation Corporation

A Livingston County-based agency has received a $400,000 state grant for rehabilitation of 15 affordable housing units in the City of Batavia, the governor's office announced.

The agency, Genesee Valley Rural Preservation Corporation, will use the funding to rehab 15 owner-occupied homes over the next 18 months, said GVRPC President Jill Alcorn.

GVRPC provides assistance with for such things as energy reduction measures, handicap accessibility and other improvements for the health and safety of the residents, Alcorn said.

The agency has previously worked with low-income housing stock in Batavia, providing $3.8 in public/private investment assistance over the past 16 years.

Cuomo's office announced that the state has made $7.3 million in investment in low-income housing in 2014 across the state with a $1 billion commitment by 2018.

“Everybody should be able to afford to live in New York – and we’re making record progress today,” Cuomo said in a statement. “Ensuring a safe and decent home for all New Yorkers is paramount to enhancing opportunities for community success and economic growth. By keeping affordable housing a priority of our administration, more New Yorkers have the resources they need to capture this opportunity and for our communities to remain vibrant for generations to come.”

Since 2011, the Cuomo's office said, New York has:

• Created 13,458 units;
• Preserved 13,326 units;
• Returned more than 37,000 units to rent regulation.

There is $486 million in the 2015-16 budget earmarked for affordable housing.

GVRPC will be able to begin this new round of work in Batavia once the contract with the state is signed, Alcorn said.