GONZALES — Gonzales City Council has approved participation in the Urban Counties Community Development Block Grant to improve areas of the city.
The City of Gonzales is part of the Urban Counties Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), which gives the city an allotment every year for participating in the program. According to City Manager Rene Mendez, the funding has been beneficial to the City of Gonzales by allowing many improvements to be made.
According to a city report, the CDBG program covers the unincorporated areas in the City of Gonzales. In the upcoming fiscal year 2018-2019, the City of Gonzales approved projects were a shade structure and accessible barbecue area at Centennial Park, re-roofing the City Hall Chambers and accessibility improvements to City Hall and general administration.
Mendez said the City would participate in the program for another three years upon approval from the County of Monterey. The grant runs from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2021, for $160,000 to $165,000. One of the requirements of the grant funding is to submit the agreement a year in advance to keep the projects moving forward.
“We’ve used it to subsidize our recreational programs,” said Mendez. “We’ve done some improvements at our park. I think it’s a program that’s really worked for us.”
The grant can also be used toward the City’s small business loan program.
“It’s programs like this where we are able to get a few more things and improve a few items,” said City Council Member Scott Funk.
Funk led the motion to approve continuing the Joint Powers Agreement with Monterey County and the Cities of Greenfield, Sand City and Del Rey Oaks to undertake or assist in undertaking of essential activities according to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The motion was supported unanimously and passed July 2.
