[YREKA], - The Siskiyou County Economic Development Council is pleased to announce the award of $70,000 in Economic Development Planning and Technical Assistance grants from the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). These funds were applied for last fall and HCD Deputy Director Chris Westlake approved the award November 26, 2008. Three projects were awarded funds under this program.

The first is a feasibility study to explore different designations and tools and how they might effect future growth and development in the city of Yreka. Examples of these include “blight” and “slum” designations, implementation of a redevelopment agency and historic district or downtown revitalization.

The second project is an architectural study of the Siskiyou County Economic Development Business Incubator Facility. The facility has assisted in the start up of more than fifteen businesses in the last few years. A comprehensive plan is needed to determine how to utilize the existing space and plan for expansion of the shared use commercial kitchen portion of the incubator.

The technical assistance grant will fund the development of a website for the Chamber of Commerce, and a supplemental individual page for Targeted Income Group (TIG) Microenterprise businesses. This site will help economically challenged and underutilized local businesses increase market awareness by drawing customers from an infinitely larger web-based consumer market pool.

“This is an example of how the individual cities’ commitment of seed monies to the Siskiyou County Enterprise Zone produces dividends through grant dollars,” stated Monique Dixon, Siskiyou County Economic Development Council’s Program Manager. “This is the first step in creating new jobs.”