GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Grants Manager Megan Mosley expressed excitement about the Board of County Commissioners’ recent decision to unanimously approve the Community Development Block Grant plan for the upcoming Fiscal Year on July 25 in a recent interview with Clay Today.

“We’re looking forward to another year of the entailment funding. We learn more and more every year about how we can positively impact the communities here in Clay County,” she said.

Commissioners voted to assign approximately $1 million it received to four areas: infrastructure, housing rehabilitation, program administration and code enforcement.

During the process, which included five public meetings held throughout the county, residents identified numerous problems, voiced their opinions, asked questions and provided suggestions.

Funding sources were based on high-priority responses from residents during public comment, also available for email submission

“The information was based on public comment and ranked in (order) or highest (priority),” Mosley said.

The first portion of the funding, totaling 51% of grant monies ($523,450), will be allocated towards public infrastructure, which will be employed to address some of the county’s critical sidewalk and street issues.

Those improvements will be made at various areas, including Palmetto Street, Harrison Avenue, Woodside and Canis drives, Capella Road and Arora Boulevard.

The infrastructure improvements could be especially important for residents.

“What the board adopted will help connect residents to essential services like schools, grocery stores and pharmacies, anything important to residents for day-to-day life at its core. It’s about making daily essentials accessible for residents,” she said.

Roadways in low- and medium-income areas like Keystone Heights will be considered as the budget permits.

The second portion of the funding, totaling 34%, will be set aside for rehabilitating 10 houses, with a set maximum budget of $35,000 each. This initiative covers roofing, electrical systems, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, accessibility modifications, health and sanitary issues, safety code violations, lead paint remediation, structural damage, including floor damage, termite treatment and tree removal.

Infrastructure such as failing septic systems and old wells could be replaced with connection fees, abandoning private wells and closing septic tanks.

Nine percent of funds ($97,177) will be used for Program Administration to ensure the smooth implementation and oversight of the CDGB Plan.

An additional $50,000 will be earmarked to enhance code enforcement efforts.

The grant staff will submit the plan for review on Aug. 15, and the funding to be implemented on Oct. 1.

Mosley answered questions and addressed any potential concerns from officials before the motion was passed, 5-0.

The county will receive CDBG monies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the third straight year, and another amount of undisclosed funding FY 2022-23 money from the CDBG that was left over from last year will also be utilized.