City starts grant application process

The city of Portales is in the preliminary stages of applying for a Community Development Block Grants to improve streets in the north side of town.

The grant, if awarded, will provide funding to replace existing curbs and gutters and install new curbs and gutters where they are needed, said Jeremy Sturm, the city’s community development director. The grant would also provide for resurfacing the streets with asphalt, Sturm said.

According to City Manager Debi Lee, if 51 percent of a neighborhood qualifies within certain guidelines, which in this case are based on income, the city could receive up to $500,000 with a 10 percent match from the city.

The targeted areas for improvements include the 800 blocks of Amazon and Brazos streets, the 600 block of Canadian Street and the 100 and 200 blocks of North Boulder and North Bryan.

Portales has received close to $5 million in Community Development Block Grants in the past few years, Lee said.

The application is due by Jan. 5, Lee said.

“It’s a very complicated and lengthy process,” said Lee.

The city will know by March if it has received the grant, Sturm said. If the grant is awarded, the targeted area would be able to see the improvements to their area by this time next year, said Sturm.

“It’s very important,” Lee said. “People have been waiting a long time for these improvements.”