The CDBG meeting this past week had a couple of interesting points that residents might want to know.

First-  The City's First Time Homebuyers program has added 11 new homeowners to the Lewisville tax rolls.  This makes 94 total home buyers in Lewisville since the program began, exhausts our funds for this program until October, and there has been only one default out of all 94 homebuyers.

Second-  Recommended Budget for CDBG expenditures next year.  This will be $769,849 from Housing and Urban Development ($134,000 from construction that is rolling to this year and 635,106 allocation, a 9.1% increase from last year).  There is also $170,000 from the City to fund Social Service Agencies.

These funds are for 1 year.  CDBG will be asking for 3 year funding programs after a Community Needs Assessment (assuming the City will pay for one.  The City also desperately needs a new 10 year plan, but budgets have killed that also).  If you work with a non-profit that is partially funded by the City you might want to attend Monday's Council Meeting.

Other recommendations for Brick and Mortar (Category 1 projects) are:  $183K for street improvements along Edward St., $150,000 for the First Time Homebuyer program, $185,000 for a housing rehab program (I'm glad we could recommend reviving this program).  CDBG is exploring a grant program called HOME to add to this budget.  

Third-  Category II funding (Social Service Agencies) will be reviewed by Council on Monday.   

Fourth-  The committee discussed a Community Co-op kitchen.  A couple of local social service agencies had mentioned the desire to build a commercial kitchen.  These types of capital improvements are typically what Housing and Urban Development funds are well suited for and there are many ways that a commercial kitchen could help not just low to moderate income families and social service agencies, but it could also be a resource for food entrepreneurs, local businesses, and the farmers market. Next steps are to see if there is any interest from the social service agencies.

Fifth-   There is a weatherization program available to low to moderate income families in Lewisville.  Please review the attached flyer and get a copy to your Church.  This is a great program, and doesn't use City funds.  This isn't the Federal Cash for Caulkers program (which is being finalized), but is part of the Stimulus.

Finally-  my neighbor stopped me this morning and shared with me that she had called about getting a patch in our alley from where the garbage trucks had damaged the concrete on her drive over the years.  In less than a day, public works came out and placed an asphalt patch on the damage.  She was tickled that the city was so responsive to her call.  Great job Public Works! 

Attachments:

File	Description	File size
WeathFlyer1.pdf	Weatherization Program	104 Kb