City hears Section 3 presentation for $500,000 CDBG sidewalk and lighting project on Britton Avenue

Rio Grande City received a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for sidewalk and lighting improvements on Britton Avenue and on July 14 held a presentation to meet Section 3 outreach requirements. Christine Gardner, project manager for GrantWorks, explained the grant contract (CDM240074) and the city’s responsibility under the Housing and Urban Development Act’s Section 3 rules to direct economic opportunities to low- and very-low-income residents and businesses. “Award amount is $500,000,” Gardner said during a Zoom presentation, adding that the project includes “sidewalk and lighting improvements along Britton Avenue.” Gardner summarized who qualifies as a Section 3 business (ownership by low-income persons, Section 8-assisted housing residents, or where 75 percent of labor hours are performed by Section 3 workers) and described the city’s obligation to provide bid and hiring information to qualified businesses and workers. GrantWorks staff offered to assist the city in tracking hours worked and collecting required income information for compliance. The presentation was a compliance step required by the grant; commissioners did not take a vote on the presentation itself but were asked to note the outreach and record-keeping obligations described by GrantWorks.