A $250,000 grant from National Grid is providing a needed boost to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, helping transform a long-blighted Island Park property into new housing for homeless veterans.
The National Grid Economic Development Grant will offset the cost of demolition and environmental remediation at the site of the former Long Beach Motor Inn, at 3915 Austin Blvd., where Tunnel to Towers will construct a 58-unit Veterans Village. The foundation broke ground on the project on April 17.
Beth Kingston, the foundation’s grant manager, said National Grid representatives first reached out about the project in early 2025 after learning about the planned Veterans Village.
“They were just incredibly enthusiastic about the Veterans Village and immediately felt that it was a great fit for their Brownfield Redevelopment Grant,” Kingston said.
The grant reimburses 25 percent of the project’s demolition and environmental remediation costs, up to $250,000. Tunnel to Towers spent more than $1 million on the work, allowing the foundation to receive the full grant amount. National Grid presented the foundation with the check last month.
For Tunnel to Towers, the funding means more of its resources can be directed toward veterans and the services they will receive.
“It definitely helped offset some of the costs,” Kingston said. “We want to pour all of our resources into our veterans, so that just gives us more money that we can then pour right into the supportive services and everything that we are doing for our veterans experiencing homelessness.”
The Veterans Village will be built on property formerly occupied by the motel, which residents and officials said had become an eyesore in the community. The Nassau County property was transferred to Tunnel to Towers in November 2025 after years of discussion about its future.
The new project is expected to feature 58 affordable apartment units and provide permanent or transitional housing for veterans, along with supportive services designed to help residents regain stability and independence.
Kingston said those services can include workforce development, addiction support and behavioral health resources.
“The Veterans Village is an opportunity for veterans to restart their lives,” she said. “It’s just access to all of these things that can really help them get back on their feet, get back to that life of independence.”
The project is expected to be completed in late 2027, with a grand opening anticipated in 2028, according to project information provided by Tunnel to Towers.
National Grid representatives said the project was a natural fit for the company’s economic development program because it combines the redevelopment of a blighted property with support for a vulnerable population.
Imran Ansari, manager of economic development for National Grid, said the company has a large veteran population among its employees and a long history of supporting veterans’ organizations.
“This project is a great intersection of a community that we can support and also a property that was in need of revitalization,” Ansari said.
Wendy Frigeria, National Grid’s strategic communications manager, said the company has more than 2,000 employees on Long Island and views community involvement as an important part of its role on the Island.
“We want to support these communities and take part in them,” Frigeria said. “We’re not only here as your capital service to provide you safe and reliable service, but we’re also here to be a pillar in the community and to support the community in every way that we can.”
The company’s Economic Development Grant is designed to help offset capital costs associated with demolition, environmental remediation and redevelopment so properties can be returned to productive use. Ansari said National Grid works closely with organizations throughout the process, including reviewing project budgets and helping connect developers and nonprofits with potential partners and resources.
“Economic development and investments can go beyond infrastructure to create real human impacts in the communities that National Grid serves,” Ansari said.
Frigeria said the company has numerous employees with connections to the fire service and emergency response communities, making Tunnel to Towers’ mission especially meaningful.
Tunnel to Towers was founded in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks and has continued to provide support to military veterans and first responders. Since launching its effort to eradicate veteran homelessness in 2023, the foundation has provided more than 20,000 veterans and 10,000 children with access to housing and supportive services.
Kingston said the community response to the Island Park project has been encouraging. Residents have welcomed the prospect of replacing the former motel with a development that will provide housing and services for veterans, she added.
“It’s obviously going to be more successful when the community receives it,” Kingston said. “So that’s just been wonderful.”
As construction continues in Island Park, both Tunnel to Towers and National Grid said they hope the project will demonstrate what can happen when nonprofits, businesses and local communities work together.