WASHINGTON – The House Appropriations Committee has approved $185,000 for a Community and Policing Partnership Against Violence program for the City of Newburgh. Congressman Maurice Hinchey pushed for the funding, which must still go through a number of legislative hoops to receive final approval.

Newburgh Mayor Nicholas Valentine said the funding is welcomed news.  Police brass will work in the weeks ahead to determine the best method of using the money, whether it be opening a storefront community office or placing more officers on the street, said Valentine.

In recent weeks, there have been three murders in Newburgh and the community policing program is seen as an effort to combat violent crime, said Hinchey.

Hinchey also secured in the legislation $210,000 for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh. That agency will use the funding for a pilot program to train young people between 17 and 25 in construction skills with goals demonstrated skills development aimed at future employment, completion of the GED high school equivalency program, and rehabilitation of three transitional housing units for very low income families in a program design based on the HUD Youth Build program.