From Washington, DC to North Las Vegas:
Choice Site Visit

Representatives of HUD Headquarters arrived in North Las Vegas for a Choice Neighborhood site visit on Tuesday, March 24 and Wednesday, March 25, 2015. The team was led by Jessica Rosenberg, with Jessie Leon and James Ashford all from the office of Public Housing Investments.

The Choice Neighborhood grant is administered through the office of Public Housing Investment (PIH). The City of North Las Vegas first received notice that they had received one of seven Choice Neighborhood Planning grants back in January 2015.

The Headquarters’ site visit was to help the Choice Neighborhood Team better understand how the City and its co applicant, the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA) plan to spend the $485,000 grant. Phyllis Hargrove, Senior Management Analyst in the Las Vegas Field office will represent the Choice team locally and assist the new grantee.

The site visit began with a tour of all of North Las Vegas. The next day after a full day of meetings, presentations and a bus tour of the Choice Neighborhood, a community forum was held to hear from residents. Residents expressed their love of their neighborhood and excitement of the possibilities that can realized with the Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant.

Jessica Rosenberg PIH, Angelique Garrett (4 years old community leader),
James Ashford, PIH and Jessie Leon, PIH

Jessica, James and Jessie were impressed with the size and diversity of the City, the excitement of the residents and the numerous community partners. The sector leaders are excited as well for Housing, People and Neighborhood. The sector leaders are SNRHA, Housing, Lutheran Social Services, People and Nevada Partner, Neighborhood. Community partners include Clark County School District, North Las Vegas Police, Clark County Juvenile Justice Center, College of Southern Nevada, University Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Lincy Institute and several others.

Jessica Rosenberg, HUD PIH, James Haye, City of North Las Vegas.
Second row Dr. Tiffany Tyler, Nevada Partners Neighborhood Sector Lead, Armena Mnatsakanyan, Lutheran Social Services People Sector Lead.
Third Row Deb Hegna, Clark County School District, Jessie Leon, HUD PIH

The Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant is a two year grant that will result in a transformation plan for the targeted Choice Neighborhood Area. It is bounded by Rose Gardens Senior Public Housing Apartments to the east and the site of Buena Vista Spring to the west.

right to left, First row: Lorena Candlariol, City of North Las Vegas, Cass Palmer, City of North Las Vegas;
Second row James Ashford, HUD PIH, John Hill, SNRHA; Third row Dwayne Alexander, SNRHA

The key component of creating a great transformation plan is community engagement. So get involved and let the City of North Las Vegas, the SNRHA Lutheran Social Services and Nevada Partners know what you think makes a Choice Neighborhood.

More information (http://www.cityofnorthlasvegas.com/Departments/ParksAndRecreation/ParksAndRecreation.shtm).

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