COLUMBIA (WACH) - City of Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin made a major funding announcement at a news conference Friday morning.

Benjamin says the East Central Columbia neighborhood is one of 17 communities nationwide to receive a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant from U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Authorities say the money will allow the development of a comprehensive neighborhood Transformation Plan.

The $250,000 grant will target projects in the Allen Benedict Court and Gonzales Gardens public housing developments as well as Allen University, Providence Hospital, Richland School District One, Drew Wellness Center, Celia Saxon health Center, Tillis Family Life Center, Drew Park, area churches and local recreation areas.

The projects will be lead by the Housing Authority of the City of Columbia.

"Today is about celebrating a unique opportunity to improve our city's two oldest public housing developments and help revitalize our entire community," said Benjamin. "It's about standing together as one great Columbia and saying that we believe in this community, we believe in this city, we believe in the future and that future starts today."