City Set to Award Money for Low-Income Causes

Applications are being sought for spending Murrieta’s share of a federal grant aimed at providing services to lower income people.

A public forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5, so that  interested persons or groups can offer suggestions to the Community Development Department for allocating Murrieta’s share of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The meeting will be held in the City Hall Council Chamber located at , 24601 Jefferson Avenue, Murrieta.

Murrieta expects to receive approximately $340,000 in CDBG funds in the next fiscal year, which starts July 1, 2012. Of that sum, an estimated $40,000 can be allocated for so-called public service projects.

Nonprofit groups and other public agencies can apply to receive funding under the program to provide services meeting CDBG criteria (24 CFR 570.201).

Application packages will be available at City Hall on Oct. 5 and are due by 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20. Grants are not made to individuals.

To be eligible, a program must primarily benefit targeted groups, according to Dorothy Farmer, senior housing analyst with the city of Murrieta.

"Targeted groups are lower income people in particular, but also include the elderly, handicapped adults, homeless and victims of domestic abuse," Farmer said in a news release.

When considering applications, the City will be looking at specific benefit to the Murrieta community in accordance with the for Program Year 2012-2013. These are, in order of priority: community food pantries, women and children programs, domestic violence programs, and children and youth development programs.

To discuss eligible activities and additional information about the program, call Dorothy Farmer at 951-461-6046.