Over $140,000 in grant money available this year
Morgan Hill – Nonprofit agencies interested in the city’s community development block grant program must apply by February 10,2006.
Community development block grants, or CDBG, are part of a federal program administered locally by the city in conjunction with Santa Clara County. They provide funding for programs that benefit low income residents and provide housing, job training, healthcare, senior programs and other social services. There are also grants for programs that eradicate slums or urban blight.
As with most social service programs, funds for the community development block grants are down. Last year, the city disbursed about $169,000 in CDBG funding. This year the city will receive about $141,000.
“The trend has been that it either stays flat or there’s been a slight reduction,” said Garret Toy, Morgan Hill’s director of business assistance and housing services. “But overall, from our perspective, it’s one of the more effective programs offered by the federal government.”
Last year, grants were used to clean up Galvan Park and fund regional homeless facilities. Money went to a wide range of social services providers, including the La Isla Pacifica Shelter for battered women and the South Valley Day Worker Service Center.
Toy said the funds are critical because the city cannot afford to finance the social service programs.
“The only other available source is the general fund and I think we’d be hard-pressed to use that,” he said.
For more information, or to request an application, call 776-7373, or e-mail ww***********@***********ca.gov.
Matt King covers Morgan Hill and Santa Clara County for The Times. Reach him at 779-4106 ext. 201 or mking@
morganhilltimes.com.
Programs That Received CDBG in 2005
Galvan Park $55,000
Depot Commons $15,000
Second Harvest Food Back $4,165
La Isla Pacifica Shelter $15,500
Youth Scholarships $7,500
El Toro Youth Center $15,500
Project Sentinel $25,000
