Local Agencies Make Block Grant Proposals

Representatives from numerous local service agencies packed into room 207 of Medford City Hall Tuesday to make their cases for the newest round of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.

Lauren DiLorenzo, Medford's community development director, told the city council CDBG has experienced a series of cuts and another cut is expected this year.

"We've been told to plan for at least five percent, so the numbers we're using today are based on that," DiLorenzo said. "I would not be surprised if it was more than that."

She said there will be about $200,000 in CDBG funds to allocate to the public service agencies this year, which is about an $85,000 decrease from last year.

The agencies that appeared before the council on Tuesday included the following: the Medford Boys & Girls Club, the Medford Council on Aging, the West Medford Community Center, SCM Transportation, the Immigrant Learning Center, Triangle, the Salvation Army, Bread of Life, Tri-CAP, E-MARK, Consumer Advisory Commission and Medford Family Life.

Council President Bob Maiocco called the process of awarding the funding a "very difficult job" for the council, a job that will be carried out in the months ahead.

The funding will be for the fiscal year starting July 1.