U.S. gives Vallejo $300,000 for neighborhood recovery

U.S. gives Vallejo $300,000 for neighborhood recovery
By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen/Times-Herald staff writer
Posted: 07/17/2009

Vallejo is getting more than $300,000 in federal neighborhood recovery funds, Rep. George Miller's, D-Martinez, office announced Thursday.

The bulk of Vallejo's money will go toward finishing an ongoing project in the 100 block of Benson Avenue in the Vallejo Heights section of town, Senior Community Development Analyst Guy Ricca said. The rest will go toward street paving this fall in the Country Club Crest neighborhood, he added.

"We'll be creating jobs with these projects," Ricca said.

City staff estimates the Benson Street project will create 30 full-time construction jobs for up to six weeks. The Crest job will create nine full-time jobs for about a week, they estimate.

A total of $1 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds will be awarded nationwide. Besides Vallejo's $315,507, within Miller's district, Vacaville is getting $150,125 and Concord will get $275,702. Contra Costa County will get $929,719 and Richmond is slated to get $366,063.

American Canyon City Manager Rich Ramirez said that city and Napa County, generally, were not eligible and therefore did not apply for the grant.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is awarding nearly $2 million in Community Development Block Grant funds for projects in Miller's Congressional District, his office said.

"These funds are a critical investment in our communities and are part of our larger effort to create good paying jobs for Californians," Miller said.

"(These) funds will give our local communities the opportunity to revitalize in some of the neighborhoods that have been hardest hit by the downturn in the economy."

Priority will be given to projects that can award contracts within four months, the announcement notes.

Contact staff writer Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at (707) 553-6824 or RachelZ@thnewsnet.com.