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Item #17 REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR THE CITY OF COLTON For the City Council Meeting of February 5, 2002 TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Candace Cassel, Program Manage{5 SUBJECT: Consideration and Approval of Citywide Home Beautification Grant Program. DATE: January 25, 2002 Backeround In a Capital Improvement Projects workshop held last year, the Council requested that $100,000 be allocated for a citywide home beautification grant program. On September 18, 2001, the Redevelopment Agency Board created the Mill Street Beautification Home Improvement Grant Program to assist the owners of the homes located on Mill Street, in beautifying their properties. To qualify for the Mill Street Grant Program, the property must be owner occupied and meet low to moderate -income guidelines. Eligible applicants are entitled to receive a grant up to $3,000, provided they contribute 25% of the project costs. For example, if the homeowner contributes $1,000, they are eligible to receive a grant of $3,000. If they contribute $200, they can receive a grant of $600. If they contribute $2,000, they can receive a grant of $3,000 (maximum amount). The Agency allocated $75,000 to the program. Applications for the funds are submitted to the Agency and reviewed by a subcommittee of the Agency Board. Once the homeowner completes the improvements, the Agency reimburses the homeowner for the grant amount or issues a two-party check made payable to the homeowner and contractor. Currently, there are 3 homeowners taking advantage of the program. Since the Mill Street Beautification Grant Program was created, the Agency has received numerous phone calls from homeowners throughout the city expressing an interest in such a program. The Citywide Home Beautification Grant Program, as contemplated by the Council in its workshop last year, will enable the City to provide such a program and assist homeowners citywide. Discussion To assist in implementing and administering the Citywide Home Beautification Grant, it is recommended that the program be modeled after the Mill Street Beautification Grant Program and be administered through the Redevelopment Agency office. Residents will only be allowed to participate in either the Mill Street or Citywide programs, but not both. Combined, the GASbareRDA\Meetings\2002 Meetings\RDA City CouncilTebruary 5, 2002\Citywide Home Imp Grant.doc