The U.S. Department of Education awarded the Hudson City School District a $400,000 "Promise Neighborhoods" grant recentkly. The program aims to improve educational outcomes for students in distressed urban and rural neighborhoods. The Federal program was based on The Harlem Children's Zone, a national model that ties social service programs and educational institutions into a supportive web designed to carry children in poverty from "cradle to college." Non-profit Organizations, including faith based organizations, are eligible for the grants. Scott Waldman in the Times-Union reports that the Catholic Charities Diocese of Albany will head a group of community organizations working with the Hudson city school district to determine where services overlap. More than 230 groups across the country competed for the grants. Only 20 of them were awarded funds on Monday. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.