On May 11, the Santa Maria Block Grants Advisory Committee will hold a public hearing to discuss how the city should spend more than $1.2 million in state funding.
The California state government has received approximately $145 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding from the federal government. The money is meant to help Santa Maria, and other cities throughout the state, address the negative effects of the housing market crash.
According to a press release from the city, the money can be used for several purposes: to pay for the purchase and development of foreclosed homes, to establish land banks for foreclosed homes, to demolish blighted buildings, and to develop demolished or vacant property.
Also at the hearing, members of the Block Grants Advisory Committee and city staff members will explain guidelines and requirements for receiving and spending the money.
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. in Shepard Hall at the Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., in Santa Maria.
For more information about the hearing, contact the Special Projects Division at 925-0951, Ext. 118.
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This article appears in May 7-14, 2009.
