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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, October 17, 2005
Contact:
Connie
Rivera, 360-709-3065
Community
Development Block Grants Funds Available
OLYMPIA
– Qualified organizations are invited to submit an application for Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) Housing Rehabilitation funds.
The next grant funding cycle is set for January 2006, with applications
to be sent to the state Office of Community, Trade and Economic Development.
A
maximum of $500,000 may be available to
Thurston
County
on a first-come first served basis for Housing Rehabilitation Grant funds.
Project activities must benefit residents of unincorporated
Thurston
County
. The eligible properties for CDBG
grant funding include residential owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied
housing, including manufactured housing that is part of the community’s
permanent housing stock. CDBG funds may be used for substantial
rehabilitation, minor home repairs, emergency repairs, weatherization and
lead-based paint mitigation. The project(s) must principally benefit low-and
moderate-income persons.
The
county may sponsor and submit an application on its own behalf or on behalf of
another entity, after a public hearing and deliberation process.
The county may submit only one application each for a Housing
Rehabilitation project. Because the county has received inquiries from more
than one agency, it is appropriate to find out what agencies are currently
interested in applying for CDBG Housing Rehabilitation funds.
Those organizations that wish to propose a CDBG funded project need to
fill out a questionnaire and return it to Connie Rivera at Thurston County by
5:00 on November 3, 2005.
The
Board of County Commissioners are scheduled to hold a public hearing at 6:15
p.m. on November 7, 2005 to hear presentations and take testimony on the
proposed projects. The hearing
will take place in Room 280, Building One of the Thurston County Courthouse.
Each project applicant will be given a maximum of 10 minutes for a
presentation and public testimony. Board
questions and discussion will follow. After
the public hearing, the Commissioners will decide which, if any project to
sponsor as an application for state CDBG funds.
The selected project applicant will then develop the full application
package. That application will be
the subject of a subsequent public meeting in prior to submittal to the state.
Those with questions can
contact Connie Rivera at 360- 709-3065. Organizations
that turn in questionnaires by November 3, 2005 will be contacted to review
the next steps and in order to provide additional information about the
November 7th public hearing.
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