GARY, Ind. (AP) – The U.S. Department of House and Urban Development has announced the city of Gary will receive a $500,000 federal grant to improve a neighborhood and promote economic growth. 

The department announced Friday that Gary is among seven cities receiving Choice Neighborhood Initiative grant designed to help local communities redevelop distressed neighborhoods and public or assisted housing.

Gary officials have decided to focus the funding toward the eastern portion of University Park, which experiences significantly higher rates of vacancy, poverty, crime, and disinvestment. It also provides opportunity to plan for the redevelopment of a portion of the Gary Housing Authority's scattered site public housing portfolio.