Federal grant worth $23.2 million to bring new homes to central Lake Worth

Click title for link to the generally positive article on the program. A key point to remember here is that Commissioner Jo Ann Golden was against the city applying for the grant and initiated her second takeover attempt of the CRA once the CRA made the application for the federal grant. That does not keep her from mentioning the receipt of the grant as one of her accomplishments in her campaign literature. The CRA needs to spend 50% of the grant, which equates to just over $11 million by February 2012. The City was to transfer seven (7) properties to the CRA and all but one had title issues. It is my understanding that those problems are being worked on - the city needs to get some sign-offs by the end of the year so that the remainder can be transferred.

According to Joan Oliva, Executive Director of the CRA, they are nearing their limit of what properties the CRA can buy. The bulk of the money is being spent on rehabilitation since many of the properties that they have been purchasing were in poor to bad condition. She is optimistic that if everyone continues to work together, the CRA will be able to meet its goals and keep the remaining money.