News

That's the title of a press release this morning from Angie Schwab at the county's Community and Economic Development office. The payout: $1.9 million in grants from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), the same agency that recently rejected the Housing Element of the county's General Plan Update. (Or "notified the county of needed revisions," if you prefer.)

The county remains eligible for competitive grants. Supervisor Mark Lovelace is quoted in the release promising that the county will continue working with HCD to ensure future eligibility. "We expect to have these issues resolved within the next few months," Lovelace said.

(Click "More" for grant details.)

The $1.9 mil will go to six projects:

• Mobile Medical Center will be able to acquire their building outright.

• Alcohol Drug Care Services, Inc. will institute a substance abuse program.

• The Humboldt Senior Resource Center will expand its Alzheimer Day Care Services and purchase two vans.

• The North Coast Small Business Development Center will get more cheddar for its micro-enterprise program.

• The county's First-time Homebuyer program will be able to offer low-interest, deferred loans.

• The final granted project will fund the county's Owner-Occupied Rehab program, which assists low-income households that have home health and safety issues.

Anyone seeking information on these grants and projects is invited to call Community Development Services, Economic Development Division at 445-7745.