CORTLAND, NY (607NewsNow) — Cortland is collecting information about housing.

The city and county are working with SUNY Cortland economics professor Dr. Kathleen Burke to gather and analyze data to support grant applications.

The Cortland County Planning Department “has developed a Housing Survey application that interfaces with their GIS database. The student interns will be using the application to collect data across the City that can then be analyzed to support future grant applications from the City,” according to a news release. “The application can be accessed via cell phone, allowing the student interns to collect data on the conditions observed at each property in the City, and uploading the information as they walk the neighborhood.  

Student interns will use the survey to collect data city-wide. “The City has long accessed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to support grants for repairs for Low Income households. Having a City-wide housing condition survey will allow the City to expand grant applications in hopes of gaining access to funding to both Low- and Moderate-income households,” officials said.

“The City is very excited to have this opportunity to work with the County Planning department and Dr Burke’s interns,” Mayor Scott Steve said. “This type of positive collaboration benefits all of our organizations.”