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Board approves $4.34 million subgrant to replace five homes destroyed by Niland fire
Summary
Supervisors authorized a subgrant agreement with Coachella Valley Housing Coalition to place five replacement homes on lots in Niland using CDBG funds; staff said manufactured homes are likely because of the schedule and prevailing-wage requirements apply.
The Imperial County Board of Supervisors approved a subgrant of up to $4,337,421 to the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition to place five replacement homes on lots in Niland that were destroyed by fire.
Priscilla Lopez, director of workforce and economic development, told the board the grant originates from a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award administered with help from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). “The scope of work for this grant was very finite,” Lopez said, adding the award deadline requires the county to complete placements by March 2026. She said the subgrant works out to about $460,000 per household in the applicant’s budget and that prevailing wage and Section 3 requirements apply because the funding is CDBG.
Project details and justification: Lopez and project manager Jade Padilla said the project was originally contemplated as stick-built homes, but the compressed schedule created by grant timing makes manufactured homes a more feasible option. Staff told the board that if the project comes in under budget any remaining funds would be returned to the state rather than reallocated locally because of CDBG requirements.
Public comment: A member of the public who identified himself as a son of an applicant urged the board to confirm that a named household remained eligible; staff committed to follow up. Later in the item, Supervisor Ryan Elliott Kelly moved to approve the subgrant and the resolution requested by HCD; Chairman John Hawk seconded the motion and it carried.
Fiscal note and risk: Lopez said the subgrant budget includes contingency to cover inflationary construction costs but warned that construction prices have fluctuated since 2020. She told the board that the county will continue environmental, planning and permitting coordination to meet the grant timeline.
Action and next steps: The board authorized the county to execute the subaward agreement and a related HCD resolution and directed staff to proceed with income certification and construction scheduling. Lopez and staff said they would return with updates and confirmed they will work to keep the project on schedule to meet the March 2026 completion target.
