Community Development Alternatives, Inc.
Activities
Community Development Block Grant Administration
CDA will administer a countywide housing program for Crawford County, Wisconsin financed by Community Development Block Grant Funds, to provide low-income and moderate-income households with assistance in rehabilitating their homes. CDA staff will identify qualified households in Crawford County; determine eligible improvements through onsite inspection; draft improvement specifications for review by CDA Board members and potential contractors; send bid specifications to eligible contractors for approved projects; verify that improvements were made according to specifications; and maintain documentation on all program projects.
Housing Preservation Grant Administration
The Housing Preservation Grants will allow us to further our mission of helping very low and low-income families in Crawford County to secure affordable housing. According to program guidelines, HPG funds may be used to “reduce the cost of repair and rehabilitation, to remove or correct health or safety . . . or to make needed repairs to improve the general living conditions of the residents.” Such improvements may include plumbing repairs, energy conservation measures, heating systems, electrical systems, structural supports and foundations, roofing, siding, handicap accessibility, and other related issues necessary to help owners maintain the value and livability of their homes.
Grant County Hazards Mitigation Plan
CDA will assist in developing a countywide All Hazards Mitigation Plan for Grant County, Wisconsin that will provide documented procedures in the event of disaster, either natural or man-made. CDA staff will work with Grant County staff to recognize potential hazards; identify various scenarios associated with each disaster; draft a plan that addresses the required response, contingencies and material and human resources for each scenario; and assist in gathering public input and finalizing the plan.
The Crawford County Tourism Committee, represented by members from villages and towns across Crawford County, will explore ways that tourism can be further developed and promoted as a source of economic growth. Given the county’s unparalleled scenery and recreational potential, the committee feels that the tourism economy, which currently ranks only 56th out of 72 Wisconsin counties, can be substantially improved. Projects currently under discussion include a new county brochure and county website, which will be administered by CDA staff.