THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY is helping first-time buyers purchase foreclosed homes through a new program called the Neighborhood Stabilization Homeownership Program (NSHP).

The program provides down payment assistance and home repair to qualified buyers and addresses the problem of abandoned and foreclosed homes in targeted areas within Riverside County. “We’d like to help maybe 200 families buy their first home and return those impacted neighborhoods into owner occupancy,” said Emilio Ramirez, Director of Housing Development.

The program, launched March 17, will be available to anyone who has not owned a home in the last three years, has an annual income that is not greater than 120% of the area median income and is purchasing a foreclosed home in the targeted areas of the county. The program will provide downpayment assistance as a silent second loan in the amount of twenty percent (20%) of the purchase price of the home. EDA down payment assistance will be secured by a deed of trust recorded in second position.

The first loan must be a fully amortized, fixed rate, 30-year mortgage. Energy-efficient improvements, curb appeal and landscaping are part of the program’s home repair assistance. Home repair items will be identified prior to closing. For more information, please visit www.rchomelink.com or call 800.909.0079.

A NEW CIVIC CENTER in Cabazon and an expansive childcare and community center that will help residents of Romoland and Homeland are among nearly $100 million worth of projects that will bring highly-desired services and amenities to the area.

A beautiful library, an interchange landscaping project and a dental clinic specializing in pediatric care are among other projects. The projects will have a transformative effect on the local communities, particularly Romoland, said Andy Frost, 5th district regional manager for the Economic Development Agency (EDA) Project Management. “Nobody is going to recognize Romoland in two years,” he said.

The multiple projects will employ a large number of people, helping the local economy while also aiding the communities that will ultimately benefit from the new buildings and services. “These are redevelopment areas, so they are considered communities that need services and infrastructure. A lot of these amenities have been in the planning stages for a while,” Frost said. One of the most highly anticipated projects is Big League Dreams Perris Valley. The private/public partnership will bring a sports park that features six softball fields.

Four will be “replica” fields designed to look like scaled down versions of famous major league stadiums. The facility will provide much needed recreational activities to the community and will be the catalyst for economic growth in the immediate area. Please keep reading for more details about the sports park and other exciting projects coming your way.

Cabazon Civic Center—A new civic center will include a 6,000-square-foot library, a 13,000-square-foot childcare and counseling facility, and a 3,000-square-foot administration facility for the Cabazon Water District will provide the community of Cabazon much needed services and recreational amenities that cannot be matched in the area. The center will be located on the 12-acre James A. Venable Community Center site at 50390 Carmen Avenue in Cabazon. An expansion of the existing park is also planned on the site with the addition of two new basketball courts, a skate park, an open turf area, a restroom building, and a park maintenance building. Shaded picnic areas and a new playground area also will be added. This Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified project will begin construction in winter 2009 and is scheduled for completion winter 2010.

Romoland/Homeland Childcare & Community Center—The 12-acre project will benefit the Romoland and Homeland areas by providing a 15,000-square-foot community center and a 10,000-square-foot childcare center at 25625 Briggs Road in Menifee. The site will include various recreational opportunities such as ball fields, dual age play areas as well as picnic and shade structures. The Economic Development Agency is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified status with the project. Plans include Photovoltaic Systems which use solar panels to convert the sun’s energy into electricity. Construction is expected to begin this summer and be completed by summer 2010.

Big League Dreams Perris Valley—A partnership between the Economic Development Agency and the privately owned Big League Dreams is bringing a Big League Dreams Sports Park to the community of Romoland. The sports park, at 2155 Trumble Road in Perris, will sit on 35 acres and includes six softball fields, two indoor arena-type soccer fields, a full service restaurant, concession stand, two tot-lot play areas, batting cages, and two open turf areas. Four of the six fields are categorized as “replica” fields and are designed to look like scaled down versions of famous major league stadiums. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2009 and be completed by fall 2010.

Jay Hoffman Youth Dental Clinic—The Riverside County Economic Development Agency has converted an old fire station, remodeled it and brought it up to code to bring a much-needed dental clinic specializing in pediatric and youth dental care to the residents in and around the communities of Lakeview and Nuevo. First 5 of Riverside provided over $180,000 towards dental equipment and has committed to funding operational expenses over the next three years. The new 3,000-square-foot clinic located on 29490 Lakeview Avenue was recently named after community activist and Nuview Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jay Hoffman (pictured above right). The new Jay Hoffman Youth Dental Clinic will be open for business in July, 2009.

Highgrove Facades—Six businesses in the community of Highgrove have seen an increase in the number of customers thanks to the county’s Facade Improvement program. The program emphasizes improving landscaping, lighting, stucco and other exterior elements. In addition to the completed projects, two businesses are under construction, two are in the final stages of design preparing for construction, and three are in the pre-design stage. Eligible applicants can receive up to $25,000 for design costs and up to $100,000 for construction costs to improve the look of their properties. For more information about the Facade Improvement program, please call 951.955.8916 or 800.984.1000.

Highgrove Library—The Highgrove Library Project, on the corner of Center and Michigan Street in the unincorporated community of Highgrove, will include a 7,000-square-foot building on two acres. Close to Highgrove Elementary School, the library will be particularly convenient for children who will be able to walk to it from school. Construction is expected to begin this fall and be finished in late 2010. The project will be designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified status. The project is currently out to bid.

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YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 14 to 24 will gain employment and learn valuable skills this summer during the Riverside County Summer Work Experience Program, funded by federal stimulus money. The program aims to help low-income individuals. Certain eligibility requirements apply and applicants will be required to provide copies of various documents, such as a birth certificate or a green card. Funding for the program comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed by President Obama in February.

The two-year program is on track to help 2,500 young people during its first year, said Loren Sims, Operations Manager for the Workforce Development Division. About $9.4 million has been allocated for the program over two years, but Sims said the majority of funds are expected to be spent in the first year. More than $5.3 million will be devoted to the first year of the program. “It’s a great opportunity for young people to gain valuable work skills, “ Sims said. “All the young people who participate will receive a job for a minimum of 120 hours and a maximum of 240 hours over the summer.”

The young people also receive work readiness skills, he said. Employers benefit by receiving additional assistance, giving back to their community and helping supervise a young person while exposing him or her to various employment and career opportunities. The county’s workforce development centers are helping people of all ages with employment needs. Three full service workforce development centers, in Riverside, Indio and Hemet, and two satellite centers in Temecula and Corona are helping displaced workers find jobs while providing other services. About 11,000 people received services of some kind from the centers between July 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009. Visit www.rivcojobs.com or call 888.968.8456 for more information.