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Community Development Block Grant
– Recovery (CDBG-R)
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Program Description: |
| On August 2009, Stanislaus County was awarded $669,134 in Community Development Block Grant Program funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Following the intent of the Recovery Act, Stanislaus County’s CDBG-R funds will be utilized to modernize and improve energy efficiency and expand educational opportunities within the housing industry. These services will be provided in the form of rehabilitation or retrofitting of Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) acquired units with solar systems and other related energy efficiency improvements. These improvements will help those impacted by the recession by reducing their energy costs and foster energy independence for first time home buyers. In accordance with the Recovery Act, Stanislaus County has imposed an expenditure deadline of September 30, 2012. |
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Program Objectives: |
Stanislaus County’s CDBG-R program has a goal of retrofitting a minimum of twenty (20) Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) housing units with solar systems and other related energy efficiency improvements.
The program will also provide educational opportunities to a minimum of seven (7) part-time interns. This will expand the intern’s exposure to the community development industry and acquire expertise to become employable within the community development, redevelopment, and related public and private housing sectors of the community. Of the seven interns, a minimum of three (3) interns will gain the experience to become employable under the program to assist with the administration of CDBG-R program activities and other interrelated community development projects and programs.
The current economic recession has caused the reduction in construction activity thereby resulting in a “displacement” of jobs in the construction industry. The solar system and energy efficiency installation component of the program has a goal of employing up to twenty-one (21) displaced construction workers and four (4) displaced contractors.
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Partnerships: |
The CDBG-R Program has allowed for partnerships with other local public, private, and educational institutions.
In partnership with the Alliance WorkNet, qualified displaced workers will be identified and retooled with the skills necessary to install solar systems and related energy efficiencies on NSP first time homebuyer ready units. The Alliance will fund the salaries of displaced contractors/workers for a period of up to twelve (12) months. The Alliance Worknet’s commitment is estimated to be approximately $245,000.
Modesto Junior College will provide the necessary training, through classroom curriculum, in the field of energy efficiency material installation and home weatherization to those contractors/workers identified by the Alliance WorkNet. Modesto Junior College’s commitment is estimated to be approximately $100,000.
1st Light Energy Solar, a local solar system equipment provider will donate contractor time and materials for the installation of a working lab that will allow for the training of program trainees. First Light Energy’s commitment is estimated to be approximately $14,000.
The Modesto Irrigation District will provide free energy audits on NSP housing units in order to identify energy deficiencies and necessary improvements. Modesto Irrigation District’s commitment is estimated to be approximately $3,200.
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