Island towns are set to apply for approximately $1 million in federal pandemic relief funds to help with rental assistance, forgivable small business loans and homelessness prevention.

Nearly $2 million in community development block grants will go toward housing projects and child care subsidies in five Island towns, the state announced Thursday.

More than $2 million in community development block grants have been awarded to the Island and Gosnold this year.

Cong. William Keating, whose district includes Martha’s Vineyard, delivered a sharp rebuke to President Trump’s budget blueprint, which would eliminate Community Development Block Grants.

The state Department of Housing and Community Development has presented an alternative to plans that would have stemmed a key source of funding for low and moderate income households.

West Tisbury, a town which has only qualified for housing rehabilitation and child care funds every three years, is now eligible every year. But in neighboring Chilmark, it's a different story.