Two Milwaukee neighborhoods to undergo revitalization

MILWAUKEE -- Two Milwaukee neighborhoods are about to undergo significant revitalization courtesy of a federal program. It's called the Building Neighborhood Capacity Program (BNCP).

Mayor Tom Barrett and Police Chief Ed Flynn were on hand Friday morning to talk about the BNCP program and how it will be used to have a positive impact on the Amani and Metcalfe neighborhoods.

"$75,000 is going to be devoted to the Amani neighborhood, $75,000 is going to be devoted to Metcalfe Park, $75,000 to the city, and each of those allotments is for training and technical assistance," said Chief Flynn.

People who live in the neighborhoods that will benefit could not be more pleased.

"I've seen the ups, I've seen the downs, and right now, we're on track to do some really good things," said Duril White, who lives in the Metcalfe Park neighborhood.

BNCP is designed to help distressed neighborhoods transform themselves into neighborhoods of opportunity by building capacity around critical elements such as public safety, education, housing, human services and health. 

"They're helping us identify best practices and work with neighborhoods to develop leadership level in the neighborhood so the neigbhorhood can be strengthened through its people," said Flynn.

BNCP is funded through an interagency agreement among the Departments of Justice, Education, and Housing and Urban Development.  Officials say it will provide intensive training and technical assistance to faith based, nonprofit and community organizations over a period of at least 20 months to help these neighborhoods design and begin pursuing results-driven, sustainable revitalization plans.