Each year the city receives a Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
It's not a lot of money - but a lot is done with it.
This past year the funds were used to complete a major rehab on an owner-occupied home and to undertake emergency repairs on 2 others; 10 first-time home buyers received forgivable grants to assist them into home ownership; 12 families received affordable childcare assistance; 3 dilapidated structures were demolished; support was provided to 2 emergency shelters to assist the homeless; and 480 residents received instruction and services at the literacy academy.
Importantly, 95% of the funds expended benefited low- and moderate-income persons.
Yes, a whole lot was done with it - thanks to the good work of Jan Detrick and Shari Brown and the Department of Community Development.
