Some $505,000 in pass-through federal funds aimed at helping low-income areas in cities across the United States is being allocated by the Manteca City Council Tuesday.
Know as the Community Development Block Grant, the funds are being proposed for distribution for 11 different projects including $5,000 to cover the city’s costs incurred to administer the federal program.
The city also is receiving $167,205 in federal Home Investment Partnership Act funds that staff is recommending go to the city’s down payment assistance program for qualified lower income first-time buyers. Over the years the housing funds have gone to help first-time buyers in the Cedar Glen subdivision off of Vasconcellos Avenue, assist with building the Eden Housing senior housing project known as Almond Terrace on North Union, help Eden Housing rehab the Union Court apartments for low-income tenants at Wawona and Union, and assist with building the second phase of Almond Terrace.
The biggest three projects for the block grant money are:
•$193,000 for the Lincoln Park parking lot reconstruction that includes expanding from 40 to 50 parking stalls including two more with handicapped accessibility, putting in place a ramp complying with the American Disabilities Act, and improving storm drainage.
•$193,740 for the first phase of a two-phase project that will construct a storm water surge basin in the vicinity of Moffat Boulevard. The first phase will include land acquisition. The second phase is the design and actual construction.
•$50,000 for heating and air conditioning upgrades at the Boys & Girls Clubhouse located on city-owned property.
The City Council is being asked to earmark $5,0000 for the Human Resources Agency of San Joaquin County for the Meals on Wheel program in Manteca, $10,000 for San Joaquin Fair Housing to cover state and federal requirements that Manteca have a resource agency to handle complaints about housing discrimination, $2,500 for the Disability Resource Agency for Independent Living to make modifications in the homes of five Manteca beneficiaries , and $2,000 for the emergency food bank’s mobile farmers market effort to secure more fresh produce for those in need with the number of Manteca beneficiaries projected at 785.
The City of Manteca youth scholarship program for disadvantaged youth to access recreation programs will receive $7,428 to help up to 137 children.
Five non-profit agencies may receive $7,428 apiece. They are Give Every Child a Chance, HOPE Ministries/Raymus House, Second Harvest Food Bank, South County Crisis Center, and Women’s Center of San Joaquin County.
The council meets at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St.
