SIDE STREETS: El Paso County designated urban county, will get $1 million grant

Ever wonder about those unincorporated neighborhoods within Colorado Springs, or scattered around the perimeter of town?
They are modest places like "No Man's Land" on the city's west edge near Manitou Springs. And Security-Widefield, Stratmoor Valley and Stratmoor Hills on the southern city limits. And Ellicott, Falcon and Peyton.

Some people move there because they like living in the county, free of city rules. Many live there because the housing tends to be more affordable than in the city.But too often they have crumbling or nonexistent sidewalks, curbs and gutters. Many have drainage problems and bad roads.

Low-income homeowners in those neighborhoods generally have gotten no help refurbishing their properties and infrastructure like their city cousins enjoy.
Until now.

El Paso County has been designated an "urban county" by the federal Housing and Urban Development agency. As a result, the county will get $1 million in Community Development Block Grant funds.

"It's really exciting," said DeAnne McCann, county economic development manager. "There are lots of possibilities for using these funds."

The county intends to process applications quickly and start distributing the money as soon as it is received, hopefully April 1.
"We're anxious to get it going quickly," McCann said. "We have received quite a bit of interest."

Individuals cannot apply. Rather, the money is aimed at nonprofit groups involved in neighborhood revitalization projects, low-income housing and the like.

Governments can apply, too. The county itself likely will put in for some funds, as will the communities of Fountain, Palmer Lake, Green Mountain Falls, Calhan and Ramah.

Colorado Springs is one of 14 Colorado cities that already get federal block grants. Four other counties also qualify as "urban counties" with populations exceeding 200,000 outside any metro areas.

The Springs has built miles of sidewalks, curbs and gutters, and funded millions in neighborhood revitalization projects with HUD block grants.

El Paso County has received about $2.5 million over the past 15 years from a state-run HUD program, McCann said. As a direct recipient from HUD, the county expects to quickly exceed that total.

A 10-member community advisory board will help decide which neighborhood projects should be funded. The El Paso County Commission will make final spending decisions.

Commissioner Sallie Clark has seen the HUD grants up close.

Her west-side Springs neighborhood has benefited for years, and she's glad to see the money now flowing directly to the county.
"It's a really good program," Clark said. "We have a lot of needs in the older parts of the county. The amount we're getting isn't huge. But it's a good start."
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