Manatee County Seeks Community Input on $1.9 Million in Community Development Block Grant Projects

MANATEE COUNTY – As they plan how to spend this year’s $1.9 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), within the eligible areas of Manatee County, Neighborhood Services Department officials are looking for more community input than ever.   Manatee County will host four community meetings to ask residents how they would like to see the money spent to improve their neighborhoods.

“The input we get from these community meetings helps us establish our recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners for the use of the Community Development Block Grant and HOME funds,” said Suzie Dobbs, Community Development manager who oversees the grant. “It’s up to the citizens to tell us what they need and where they need it. If they don’t tell us, we have to assume what they want using data and information we collect throughout the year.”

The remaining meetings will be held on the following dates and venues:

·        Jan. 26, 2012 at Central Library at 1301 Barcarrota Blvd. W.  – 9 to 11 a.m.
·        Jan. 26, 2012 at South County Library at 6081 26th St. W. – 5 to 7 p.m.

In years past, the grant has gone to pay for the the Kelly Brown Career Center, Pride Park Splash Park; the purchase and rehabilitation of the Bill Galvano One-Stop Resource Center; the expansion of the Just for Girls Club in east Bradenton; and on Lincoln Park improvements.  Money received in past years has also been spent on road improvements, street lighting upgrades and new sidewalk and drainage projects within the CDBG eligible areas.

For more information, call Suzie Dobbs at (941) 749.3029, e-mail her at suzie.dobbs@mymanatee.org  For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501.