Block grant meeting kept short

The City of Clovis held a quick public meeting for information on the Community Development Block Grant process.

Just one member of the public, Michael Sena of Clovis, attended.

Burroughes spent the 15 minutes of meeting describing the CDBG process and answering related questions from Sena.

The process allows state entities to apply for up to $500,000, which is drawn for a $14 million pot given to the state. A $50,000 match is required, and projects should benefit lower to moderate income residents.

Often, Burroughes said, street projects get the nod because they can be planned and finished quickly and can be scaled to fit the block grant amount. The most recent block grant was used for the upgrade of Pile Street between Seventh and Commerce streets.

Burroughes said, “You have to spend them before you can apply for others,” so multi-year projects like the Hotel Clovis are not on the list until they are in their closing steps.

Burroughes said the city was likely to use money for drainage projects, unless a better idea is submitted.