LAKEPORT
Lake County Chamber of Commerce creates web page to promote local shopping
The Lake County Chamber of Commerce is creating a web page to promote shopping local this holiday season. We want to promote our member’s businesses by providing a link to your website or Facebook. If you do not sell gift cards, we can list instructions on our page.
We will be promoting this page to all of Lake County through all our digital platforms. This includes Instagram, Facebook, our website news, and YouTube. We hope people decide to shop from home or phone local in Lake County.
Please email all your details to: ea@lakecochamber.com , including any links and we are excited to promote your business so thank you for participating.
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UKIAH
Spring enrollment underway at Mendocino College
Mendocino College is pleased to announce that students can begin registering for the spring semester. The upcoming spring term, which begins January 19, will look very similar to fall 2020 at Mendocino College. While the schedule will be primarily online, there will be some hybrid classes offered (a mix of online and face-to-face). Many online classes will include a regular Zoom session led by the instructor at a specific time as noted in the schedule. The schedule can be found by visiting https://www.mendocino.edu/schedule and a printed version will be mailed to homes in the district by early January.
The college continues to offer virtual assistance for students and has recently offered some on-ground services, such as Admissions and Financial Aid assistance, to help students prepare for the spring semester. Chromebooks also continue to be available, students in need may request one through their instructor.
“I am proud of our students, faculty and staff for their hard work and dedication as we have transitioned to various modes of instruction in order to offer our students the best and safest options for their education,” said Mendocino College President/Superintendent Tim Karas. “We know that an online learning environment is not ideal for all students and we will work to eliminate hurdles as best we can.”
In addition to registering for classes, students can prepare for the spring semester by applying for financial assistance, such as the Mendocino College Promise. Through the Mendocino College Promise, first-time, first-year students can receive up to two years free tuition, regardless of their financial situation. For more information about eligibility, please visit www.mendocino.edu/promise.
Students who wish to see their eligibility for federal grants and loans, including the Mendocino College Promise, should complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov. More information about financial aid can be found at www.mendocino.edu/financial-aid.
For students receiving face-to-face instruction in the spring, attendance will comply with the College’s COVID-19 protocols for social distancing, face coverings, and additional sanitation measures.
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WASHINGTON D.C.
Rep. Garamendi applauds introduction of HOME Act in the Senate to increase affordable housing
Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) applauded the introduction of the HOME Investment Partnership Reauthorization Act in the Senate by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). Garamendi introduced the legislation in the House (H.R. 7312) on June 25.
The HOME Investment Partnership Program is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments, and is designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households. The program was authorized by the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, and most recently reauthorized in 1994.
“California is facing an affordable housing crisis,” Garamendi said. “Minimum wage workers have to work a 91-hour week on average to afford a modest one-bedroom rental at a fair market rate. This legislation reauthorizes the HOME Investment Partnership Program for the first time since 1994 to bring this crucial program into the 21st century and provide states and local governments with the funding to address their housing needs. I’m thankful to Senator Cortez Masto for introducing the companion legislation in the Senate, and we will both work tirelessly until this legislation becomes law,” Garamendi concluded.
“Even before the pandemic hit, Nevada had one of the worst affordable housing crises in the nation,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’ve been making progress in my push for more federal support for Nevadans in need of a safe and secure place to live, and this bill to reauthorize the HOME Investment Partnership Program is a critical part of my approach. I’m proud to work with Representative Garamandi to introduce this bill in the Senate, and I’ll continue to fight so that state and local governments have the resources they need to craft affordable housing solutions for Nevada’s families.”
Background: HOME funding gives states and local governments flexibility to address their community’s specific housing needs. HOME funds are utilized to finance a wide variety of affordable housing activities, such as:
- Rehabilitation of Owner-Occupied Housing
- Assistance to Home Buyers
- Rental Housing Activities, including rehabilitation or construction of affordable housing
- Tenant-Based Rental Assistance
The HOME Investment Partnership Reauthorization Act would:
- Reauthorize the program for 5 years
- Increase appropriation to $5 billion, with a 5% increase each following year
- Make technical corrections to the program
To see HOME funds awarded in every Congressional District throughout America, please navigate to HUDs Community Assessment Reporting Tool that can be found online at https://egis.hud.gov/cart/
The full text of the Senate bill is available online at https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/HOME%20Investment%20Partnerships%20Program%20Reauthorization%20Act.pdf
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