Monitor Editor
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Clay County Government issued a draft report of its progress on administering community development block grant projects and highlighted in the document efforts to revitalize the High Ridge Estates neighborhood east of Keystone Heights.
The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report summarizes the progress made toward the five-year goals established in the county’s CDBG consolidated plan. It describes how funds were allocated and the extent to which funds benefitted low- and moderate-income persons.
Funded activities must serve one of the three CDBG national objectives: 1) to benefit low-and moderate-income persons, 2) to aid in the prevention or elimination of slum or blight, or 3) to meet a community development need of urgency.
The county said in the report that some of its major accomplishments using community development block grants centered around the Lake Region neighborhood.
“Two community clean-up days to resolve code enforcement issues were organized in High Ridge Estates,” the report said. “These projects aligned with the High Ridge Initiative, a community-led effort to improve the quality of life in one of the county’s low to moderate-income areas.”
The county said a significant number of applicants for home rehabilitation and code enforcement resolution came from the Lake Region. Twenty-one eligible residents applied for the assistance from the Keystone Heights zip code, while 37 Middleburg area residents applied.
“Orange Park and Green Cove Springs each had 18 eligible applicants,” the county said. “Jacksonville, Melrose, and Lawtey each had one eligible applicant; portions of these zip codes are located geographically in Clay County.”
The county-funded 108 home rehabilitation projects, 25 mobile home replacement projects and nine code violation projects.
The report states that the average median income of all approved applicants for housing rehabilitation projects was $25,674.
“The County also resurfaced Louie Carter Road in Middleburg, Florida, which benefited a residential area of 100 low to moderate-income families,” the report states.
Part of the document addresses how the county handles the needs of homeless people within Clay.
“There are about 848 emergency shelter beds accessible to Clay County,” officials said. “Several non-profit providers and faith-based organizations offer services and facilities to the homeless population, which include emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent support housing.”
The report’s 15-day public review and comment period is Wednesday, November 23, 2022, through Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at the close of business. Comments from the public are encouraged and will be accepted during this period at the Department of Economic and Development Services, 477 Houston St., 3rd Floor, Planning and Zoning Division, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043. Comments can also be given by calling 904-541-3814 or emailing [email protected].
Officials are also holding a public meeting about the draft document. The meeting will be held at the Fleming Island Library at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 30.
