Fountain Valley to receive $434,000 grant

Angelique Flores

FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- The city will receive a $434,000 Community Development

Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“We’ve begun the preliminary work,” said Chris Corbin, the city’s housing

coordinator.

Before the funding cycle begins July 1, the city must submit a spending

plan.

A portion of the money will go toward the low- and moderate-income

population served by the ongoing housing rehabilitation program, the

neighborhood revitalization program and nonprofit organizations.

Fifteen percent of the funds will be set aside for public service

agencies.

This year, 11 organizations applied for a share of the money. Last year,

12 of the 15 agencies that applied received some funds. However this

year, the majority -- if not all -- of the 11 applications probably will

be granted, officials say.

Some of the nonprofit groups that have received funding in the past are

the Orange County Council on Aging, the Fountain Valley After School Day

Care Program, Adult Day Care Services of Orange County, and the Women’s

Transitional Living Center. Although not all agencies that applied are

located in the city, they serve city residents.

The city’s code enforcement efforts also will receive a share of the

funds. But no more than 20% will go toward city administration.

Specifically, the city is planning to use some of the grant to purchase

emergency medical equipment for one of the fire engines.

A summary of the plan will be available next month. A public hearing is

scheduled for April.

“Now we’re just beginning to get the balls rolling,” Corbin said.