Lorain looks to spend Block Grant funds on Neighborhood Alliance, Lorain Products demolition

LORAIN — Neighborhood Alliance will be getting a boost following a change to Lorain's plans for its Block Grant funds. As part of a $1.5 million reallocation of Community Development Block Grant funding, the Lorain-based nonprofit will receive $25,000 in improvements to its child care facility on Clinton Avenue. 'It's been needed for a long time, so we're excited to have the opportunity to get some funding to put things in place for the kids," Neighborhood Alliance Executive Director Alicia Foss said. The child care center serves children 6 weeks to 12 years of age, and the school age kids don't have a fenced in area for them to play, she said, and some of the equipment for the younger children is outdated. She hopes to see the equipment in by summer camp in late May. The allocation is part of a substantial amendment to the city's Block Grant spending plan submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for its approval. Other items included in the $1.5 million reallocation include more than $318,000 allocated to the demolition and clean up of the former Lorain Products building at 1122 F St. on the east side. A skate park, backed by professional skateboarder Chad Muska, is slated for the long-abandoned site. Another $424,000 will be used for street improvements in low-to-moderate income areas. Roadways will be selected using the city's pavement conditions index, Planning and Zoning Administrator Drew Crawford said. Alongside regular Block Grant funds, staff from the city's Building, Housing and Planning Department also discussed reallocations for the city's CDBG-CV funds and spending goals for some of its HOME-American Rescue Plan (ARP) dollars. The city is reallocating $133,834 of unused small business retrofit funds from its CDBG-CV money to provide small business emergency relief grants. About $1.4 million in HOME-ARP funds will be used to help rehab homeless shelters in the city to provide for a more non-congregate setting, Crawford said. HOME-ARP are new funds granted to the city as part of the American Rescue Plan, and must be used to foster opportunities for rental housing, community support services, emergency shelters and transitional housing, with a focus on domestic violence victims, veterans or those experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.