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Community Relations & Neighborhood Engagement

Community Relations & Neighborhood Engagement

Andrew Thomas, Community Relations & Neighborhood Engagement Director
Community Development/Relations endeavors to ensure ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
the City of Sanford embraces diversity and inclusion and • Implemented the Historic Goldsboro Boulevard Economic
promotes equality, justice and equal protection under the Development Façade Improvement Program to assist
law for all its citizens. Also, to ensure that all residents in businesses along Historic Goldsboro Boulevard, total
the City of Sanford are treated fairly and have equal access funding $55,000 to assist business.
to opportunities in education, employment, housing, and
certain public accommodations regardless of race, color, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME HOME
religion, sex (gender) or national origin. Administers the BUYERS/RENTERS
Community Development Block Grant programs. • Continued to work with Harvest Time International to
identify sponsors for the second debt free home for a
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT disabled veteran.
• The 2018-2019 Community Development Annual
Action Plan was submitted to the City Commission and • Partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Seminole County
approved at the August 13, 2018 Commission Meeting. and Apopka on Builders Blitz 2018 to construct one
new home at 2400 Marshall Avenue for a low-income
• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development homebuyer.
for Program Year 2018-2019 (October 1, 2018 through • Partnered with Seminole County Community Services
September 30, 2019) has allocated $448,253 in CDBG Department for the Annual Homeownership Fair.
funding for the City of Sanford.
CDBG PUBLIC SERVICES GRANTS GOLDSBORO CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT
INITIATIVE
Four Grants Totaling $62,182
The City of Sanford in partnership with the Sanford Housing
• $24,056 to Early Learning Coalition of Seminole County Authority accomplished the following during the past year:
CDBG funding was used for their school readiness • Interviewed over 200 Goldsboro residents.
program.

• $6,040 to St. Johns River Festival of the Arts. The SJRFA • Conducted 70 plus stakeholder’s meetings with more than
300 total participants.
used CDBG funds for its Arts for kids program. The
program provides art classes to children. Funds will be • Mailed over 9000 letters to residents.
used for scholarships for the classes as well as art supplies. • Completed the Choice Neighborhood Transformation

• $12,306 to Golden Rule Housing and Community Plan and submitted it to HUD.
Development. CDBG funding was used for HUD • Sanford Housing Authority collaborated with Wendover
Housing Counseling Services, first time homeowners. Housing Partners for the development of a 100+ multi-
• $19,780 to Kidzkare Preschool and Childcare CDBG family unit complex.
funding was used for the Strengthening Families • Provided a grant to assist with relocation, staffing
program. and materials for the Goldsboro Farmers Market and
HOUSING contracted with Goldsboro Front Porch Council, Inc. for
Redevelopment and Revitalization - $158,299 the continued administration of the Market.
• Assisted six low and moderate-income homeowners with • Completed and implemented the Market Analysis for
grants to address housing immediate needs such as roof, Affordable Residential Products to guide development
of new affordable and market rate, for-sale residential
electrical, plumbing and ac units’ repair and replacement.
housing in the Goldsboro Community.
• In collaboration with Seminole County and the use of
State Housing Initiative Partnership, Department of NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM
• Assisted four low-income households with affordable
Housing and Urban Development HOME and CDBG rental housing.
funds completed reconstruction of two houses with
four under construction for low and moderate-income • Assisted two first-time low-income homebuyers with
homeowners at an average cost of $140,000 per house. purchase of homes.

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