Congresswoman Matsui Announces $550,000 in Federal Grants to SHRA & West Sacramento

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 22, 2011

CONTACT: ALANA JUTEAU
(202) 225-7163

Congresswoman Matsui Announces $550,000 in Federal Grants to SHRA andamp; West Sacramento

CA Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) announced that the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) and the City of West Sacramento will be receiving $150,000 and $400,000 respectively from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD's Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities (OSHC) awarded these grants to help continue efforts to create sustainable communities and transit-oriented developments in the Sacramento area. These grants build upon the $1.5 million investment in the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) sustainable communities plans that Congresswoman Matsui and HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Simms announced last year in Sacramento.

I am pleased that the federal government continues to take notice of the work being done in the Sacramento region to create sustainable and responsible growth, said Congresswoman Matsui. It is important that we continue to get the local and federal support needed to be successful and to provide a strong base upon which we can rebuild our economy. These grants will allow both SHRA and West Sacramento to move forward on their plans to create communities with affordable housing options and access to public transit. Best of all, jobs will be created as we get to work on the plans for our future.

The $150,000 grant awarded to SHRA will be used to help design and create a transit-oriented development loan fund to support affordable housing located close to public transportation. SHRA will also use the money to build a food distribution hub that will provide jobs for local residents as well as fresh fruits and vegetables in urban neighborhoods that do not have full service grocery stores. SHRA will be partnering with other organizations including SACOG, Soil Born Farms, California Endowment and Valley Vision to ensure the successful use of the grant money.

On behalf of the Sacramento County Housing Authority and our partners, SHRA is pleased to be selected to receive this important award, said SHRA Executive Director La Shelle Dozier. This grant will greatly assist our efforts to strategically position Sacramento for the economic turnaround and to leverage other public/private investment that will help create the quality of life benefits of affordable housing, livable neighborhoods, and healthy lifestyles that our residents want and deserve.

The City of West Sacramento will use their $400,000 grant they received to help finish the Washington District Plan for Sustainable Community Development and revitalize the Washington District located between the I Street bridge and Raley Field. SACOG and a number of West Sacramento organizations will join the City in implementing their grant.

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