FOUNTAIN VALLEY : $761,000 in Federal Grants Allocated

Nearly $761,000 in federal grant money has been earmarked for local community programs next year. The City Council recently allocated Community Development Block Grant money for programs such as housing and mobile home rehabilitation, neighborhood revitalization and code enforcement activities.

Andrew Perea, planning services manager, said the city is expected to receive $389,000 in federal grant money for 1994-95 and will carry over $371,934 left from the 1993-94 budget. Some of the carry-over money includes $225,000 the city received from the sale of property for an affordable housing project, Perea said.

In addition, $74,150 for the construction of a Boys & Girls Club facility at Mile Square Regional Park will be carried over, he said. Because of unexpected increases in construction costs and the need to raise more money, the club project has been on hold.

Among the programs being funded, $58,350 has been set aside for public service programs such as those for the homeless, abused children and runaway youth.

About $70,000 will be spent on administrative costs, which include personnel and operating expenses to manage and coordinate the federal grant program.

The council also designated $7,968 for the city to contract with the Fair Housing Council of Orange County. Fair housing services will include mediation and resolution of housing discrimination disputes as well as technical assistance and training opportunities to housing industry professionals, such as real estate agents and apartment managers and owners.

In efforts to spruce up low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, $42,372 was appropriated for a code enforcement program.