City Gets $4.6-Million Quake Grant

The city has received a federal grant of more than $4.6 million to help with earthquake recovery and wants to know how to spend it.

Public meetings have been scheduled for 5 p.m. today at Canyon Country Park and 2 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall for Santa Clarita residents to offer suggestions.

The grant is the fourth largest made by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to municipalities hammered by the Northridge earthquake.

The federal Emergency Supplemental Community Development Block Grant can be used for construction projects involving roads, housing and community programs. It is designed to pay for quake-related projects not covered by other government programs, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration.

“The emergency CDBG appropriation provides the city with a unique opportunity to address (additional) earthquake-related priorities,” said Don Duckworth, city recovery agency manager.

FEMA provides assistance to homeowners and renters and, through its public assistance program, funds repairs of schools, sewers, hospitals and community offices, such as Santa Clarita’s damaged City Hall. The SBA offers low-interest loans to residents and merchants.

HUD provided recovery grants of $99 million to Los Angeles, $7.9 million to Los Angeles County and $5.5 million to Simi Valley.

The Jan. 17 temblor caused an estimated $244.4 million in damage to the Santa Clarita Valley.