Recent Award Announcements : Hot off the Presses!

Funding Success
Since it was established in 1984, Tulare County’s Community Development and Redevelopment (CD&R) Division has been very successful in competing for federal and state funds. These federal and state funds enabled the County to empower its residents and improve their quality of life.

A total of $23,753,963 has been awarded to the County through various funding programs including: Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), Economic Development Block Grant Program (EDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), CalHome Program, Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) and Workforce Housing Rewards Program.

These funds were utilized to rehabilitate almost 800 homes and provide mortgage assistance to 40 first time homebuyers under the Housing Programs. CDBG funds have also been utilized for many capital improvement projects by constructing water systems and sewer connections for communities including Alpaugh, Cutler, Delft Colony, Earlimart, East Orosi, El Rancho, Goshen, Lemon Cove, Lindsay, Lone Oak Subdivision, Orosi, Richgrove, Seville, Springville, Tipton, Tonyville, Tooleville, Traver, Wells Tract, Western Sky Mobile Home Park, Woodville and Yettem. Additional CDBG funding provides for Small Business Assistance through the Microenterprise Technical Assistance & Loan Program.

Funds have also been used to build the Doyle Colony Fire Station, begin collaborative efforts to establish the Construction Trades Training Program, construct Porterville public facilities, provide test wells for Allensworth, Madonna, and Plainview, and rehabilitate the Poplar Community Center.

The future continues to look bright for the Housing Programs, which have recently been awarded a 2005 HOME grant in the amount of $800,000, and a 2005 CalHome grant in the amount of $500,000. Both grants will help to continue the much needed Housing Rehabilitation Program and Emergency Repair Program. The Workforce Housing Rewards Program provided funds for a baseball backstop and irrigation system in Goshen, baseball field in London, bus shelter in Earlimart, and the purchase of safety equipment for Tulare County Fire Department.

An additional $40,077,576 has been awarded to the County from other funding sources including: United States Department of Agriculture (UDSA), Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ), California Economic Infrastructure & Development Bank (CEIDB), Economic Development Administration (EDA), Transportation Enhancement Activity (TEA), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). These funds have greatly contributed to successes such as the Traver Sewer Plant, Pixley Place, and the Betty Drive Realignment, which was the first new road in the County in thirty years. Capital Projects also have pending grants totaling $68,000,000.

Efforts are underway with Airports for the revitalization and economic development of Sequoia Field Airport. A pending EDBG grant will provide business assistance to an agricultural plastics recycling business that is planning to locate its plant at Sequoia Field. This plant will be the first of its kind in the United States. Grant funds may also assist with a business incubator.

For additional information on any of these programs or a list of grants awarded by Community Development & Redevelopment please contact:

Laurie Mercer, Division Manager
LMercer@co.tulare.ca.us
Community Development Specialist IV
Housing and Grant Programs Coordinator

Scott Cochran, Division Manager
SCochran@co.tulare.ca.us
Community Development Specialist IV
Capital Projects Coordinator