Inauguration of the new council, Monday evening, November 18 + CDBG grants

The new city council — same as the old council — will begin its two-year term Monday evening, November 18.

The meeting agenda is online. Please join us for a dessert reception following the meeting, at approximately 8:30 pm, at the community center. This will be an ideal occasion to (re-)meet the council members, at the start of a term.

First, the last act of the old council will be to vote on FY15 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) recommendations. Takoma Park’s recommendations will be forwarded to Montgomery County for incorporation in plans for the county’s overall allocation.

“The CDBG program provides flexible funding for a variety of neighborhood revitalization, economic development, capacity building and housing projects which directly benefit low and moderate income (LMI) residents of Takoma Park or are located in and serve an area that is predominantly inhabited by LMI residents.” As a Capital Improvement Project, the council is supporting $106,250 for the Flower Avenue Green Street project. Public Service Projects may receive up to 15% of the overall allocation. The council will support the city review committee’s recommendations:

– Catching Up Program, $5,000, funding the African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation for homework assistance with individualized mentoring and tutoring, with interpretation and translation assistance, targeting 20 students residing in the Essex House Apartments (7777 Maple).

– Microenterprise Development, $6,480, to the Crossroads Community Food Network, Inc. to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate job training (food production), mentoring, and skills development and linkage of micro-entrepreneurs with existing resources and local food mentors.

– Smart Choices with Emotions, $7,270, to the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, DC-Youth and Family Service for weekly therapeutic group meetings for at-risk students at Takoma Park Middle School.

Thank you to reviewers Elizabeth Boyd, Franca Brilliant, Gary Cardillo, Andrew Kelemen, Howard Kohn, Anand Parikh, Lesley Perry, and Jacqueline Schick!