"This award speaks to the projects that have an impact on the 'sidewalk level' and directly impact the vitality of our neighborhoods and citizens," said Pougnet. "These wouldn't be possible without the remarkable collaboration amongst City staff and our local nonprofit agencies."

According to Palm Springs Spokeswoman Amy Blaisdell, the CDGB program provides communities across the United States with resources that address a wide range of unique community development needs. Founded in 1974, it is one of the longest continuously run programs through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

As part of National Community Development Week, the City and its CDGB Advisory Committee, which represents the City's Human Rights, Parks and Recreation and Planning commissions as well as the Senior, HIV/AIDS and targeted income qualified areas/populations, conducted a Community Development Week Tour. The tour included four on-site interactions with leadership of some the CDBG program's largest fund recipients, including Mizell Senior Center, Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs, Desert AIDS Project, City of Palm Springs James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center as well as windshield drive-bys of several other CDBG public facilities and infrastructure improvements.

Tour participants were nine current and former CDGB Citizen Advisory Members along with staff from the office of U.S. Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack and California State Senator Bill Emerson.

For more information about the City's CDGB Program, call Dale Cook at (760) 323-8198.