Amador County - Also at Thursday’s special meeting in Evalynn Bishop Hall, there will be a workshop on the Ione Community Preservation Project. The project includes a “Main Street Program,” a “Redevelopment Plan,” an Economic Study and a “Main Street Façade Program.” The meeting will discuss $285,000 dollars in funding that the city found from two Community Development Block Grants that were funded in the 1980s but are currently inactive. City Manager Kim Kerr in a staff report said the $284,775 is from the two CDBG grants that closed in December 1990. Kerr and City Attorney Kristen Castanos in researching the funds, found that “when there is no open CDBG grant the funds are considered miscellaneous revenue and (are) not subject to the requirements of … the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 … and can be used as the city sees fit.” Kerr recommended putting $100,000 dollars into the Main Street Program over the next 3 years, for a matching funds Façade Program, which would match up to $2,500. She also recommended $120,000 for the Redevelopment Plan study; $60,000 for the Economic Study; and $4,775 to set up the Main Street Program. Kerr recommended “that the City have a separate non-profit organization operate the Main Street program and have a public-private partnership relationship with the non-profit…. The working title is the Ione Community Preservation Project which will involve economic development, education, and cultural events.” Staff had discussed the non-profit with various community members, including, Marie Nutting of Preston Castle Foundation; Regia Sargent of Ione Picnic Association; Maureen Funk of Amador Council of Tourism; local Realtor Sally Bligh; City Treasurer Sharon Long; and Councilwoman Andrea Bonham, co-owner of Clark’s Corner. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.