The Red River Regional Council (RRRC) awarded funding to three regional projects at its Board of Directors meeting on February 19 in Grafton.   The awards are as follows:

• $224,030.84 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to the City of Crystal Street Paving Project. The City is planning to repave all of the city streets later this year.  The CDBG funds will be used to pay the special assessments of the low and moderate income households.  This application will now be forwarded to the ND Department of Commerce – Division of Community Services for a grant award.
• $100,628.71 CDBG grant funds to the City of Cavalier Housing Rehabilitation Project. These funds are part of the Phase II funding package.  These funds match $163,278 recently awarded by the Federal Home Loan Bank.  The project committee has recently awarded bids on eight homes and is seeking more low and moderate income applicants.
• $100,000 Progress Fund loan to DeMars Hardware Inc. dba Grafton True Value Hardware and Lumber. Kerry and Carole DeMars are expanding their hardware business to include lumber.  Grafton has been without a lumber store since April 2014.

“We are delighted to provide assistance to each of these community projects – each led by strong local leaders,” said Dawn Keeley, Executive Director.  “It’s our goal to assisting in building vibrant communities – and projects like these hit the mark.”

The RRRC also approved the CDBG 2015 Program Distribution Statement.  The RRRC is anticipating its 2015 funding to total $192,325 which will be split evenly between public facilities and housing opportunity.  Eligible projects for public facilities funding could include water and sewer, fire protection, ambulances, community centers, storm sewers, flood or drainage facilities, removal of architectural barriers and planning.  Housing opportunity includes rehabilitation, repair, expansion, or similar activities to provide for affordable housing.  The majority of CDBG funds are targeted to the benefit of low and moderate income households.  The RRRC will accept pre-applications for its 2015 CDBG funding by July 15, 2015.

For more information, please contact the RRRC at 701-352-3550 or visit the website at www.redriverrc.com.  The RRRC is one of eight regional planning councils in North Dakota established in 1973 to enhance the ability of local governments to jointly plan, address issues, and seize opportunities that transcend individual boundaries.  The RRRC serves Region IV which includes Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina, and Walsh Counties.